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Economics, as intellectual discourse, is not a settled body of principles; it is a heterogeneous discipline with numerous traditions, each based on a cluster of theories. Ekelund and Hebert, experienced researchers and educators, balance continuity and consensus in the evolution of economic theory with alternative points of view about the nature, scope, and method of economic inquiry. Their creative approach gives readers a feel for the thought processes of the great minds in economics and underscores key ideas impacting contemporary thought and practice. Building on the solid foundation of previous editions, the fifth edition of A History of Economic Theory and Method presents an updated an...
This book establishes a chronological trace of the entrepreneur as treated in economic literature in order to give a more wholesome perspective to contemporary writings and teachings on entrepreneurship. It focuses on the nature and role of the entrepreneur, and of entrepreneurship, as revealed in economic literature as early as the eighteenth century, when Richard Cantillon first coined the term 'entrepreneur'. The authors then trace how Joseph Schumpeter's perspective, among other’s, on entrepreneurship came to dominate the world's understanding of the term. Due to Schumpeter’s dominant influence, entrepreneurship has come to occupy a primary role in the theory of economic development....
Historical Perspectives on the Entrepreneur preserves a vital historical perspective by chronologically tracing the entrepreneur in the economic literature to give a complete perspective to contemporary writings and teachings on entrepreneurship. It reviews the historical nature and role of the entrepreneur as described and analyzed in economic literature from the eighteenth century to the present. Historical Perspectives on the Entrepreneur shows how Joseph Schumpeter changed the ambiguous nature of a concept of the entrepreneur to that which now occupies a primary role in the theory of economic development. It also examines other conceptions of entrepreneurship besides Schumpeter's including the many different facets of entrepreneurship as they have been perceived by some of the great economists throughout the ages. Finally, it illustrates the tension that often exists between "theory" and "practice." Historical Perspectives on the Entrepreneur should be required reading for all students of economics and those interested in entrepreneurship practice.
Economics can help us understand the evolution and development of religion, from the market penetration of the Reformation to an exploration of today's hot-button issues including evolution and gay marriage. This startlingly original (and sure to be controversial) account of the evolution of Christianity shows that the economics of religion has little to do with counting the money in the collection basket and much to do with understanding the background of today's religious and political divisions. Since religion is a set of organized beliefs, and a church is an organized body of worshippers, it's natural to use a science that seeks to explain the behavior of organizations—economics—to u...
Using documents previously unavailable in English, the authors present a cohesive and original picture of French economic thought that solidly documents the contributions of Dupuit and his colleagues. Ekelund and Hebert build their argument by focusing on the development of economic theory in the peculiar milieu of postrevolutionary France in an attempt to identify the essence of the French contribution and the extent to which the French legacy benefited other economists of international acclaim. They conclude that the kinds of issues in economic theory and policy that Dupuit and his colleagues found arresting and worthy of analysis in the nineteenth century are still pertinent today and will continue to interest economists into the twenty-first century. This seminal work will be of great importance to historians of economics and all economists interested in the foundations of modern microeconomics.
A sweeping global history of entrepreneurial innovation Whether hailed as heroes or cast as threats to social order, entrepreneurs—and their innovations—have had an enormous influence on the growth and prosperity of nations. The Invention of Enterprise gathers together, for the first time, leading economic historians to explore the entrepreneur's role in society from antiquity to the present. Addressing social and institutional influences from a historical context, each chapter examines entrepreneurship during a particular period and in an important geographic location. The book chronicles the sweeping history of enterprise in Mesopotamia and Neo-Babylon; carries the reader through the I...
Without meaning to be irreverent, it is fair to say that in the Middle Ages, at the height of its political and economic power, the Roman Catholic Church functioned in part as a powerful and sophisticated corporation. The Church dealt in a "product" many consumers felt they had to have: the salvation of their immortal souls. The Pope served as its CEO, the College of Cardinals as its board of directors, bishoprics and monasteries as its franchises. And while the Church certainly had moral and social goals, this early antecedent to AT&T and General Motors had economic motives and methods as well, seeking to maximize profits by eliminating competitors and extending its markets. In Sacred Trust...
"Giffen goods" and "the Giffen paradox" are alluded to in every standard economics textbook, yet there is no comprehensive reference work available. This book considers the life and career of Robert Giffen and his writings on poverty in the mid-nineteenth century. Containing an extensive review of literature on the paradox, it explores the origins of this perverse form of consumer behaviour and discusses its relevance for the late twentieth century. Contents: Introduction; Retrospect; Robert Giffen; Giffen and the Poor; The Paradox Statement; Giffen's Paradox; Before and After Giffen; Rehabilitation and Debate; Epilogue; Bibliographical Notes; Index R
The variety of meanings of the term entrepreneurship, since it was first used in 1755, provide the authors with a fecund source of ideas for considering the phenomenon in its modern context and suggesting ways in which entrepreneurs might act to promote economic strength in the future.