These volumes provide an in-depth study of Thorstein Veblen (1857-1929) whose best-known work, "The Theory of the Leisure Class," elaborated the concept of "conspicuous consumption." Veblen's work on institutional economics drew on social Darwinism to emphasize the important role of the social and political non-economic environment in shaping economic activity. Veblen went on to criticize much of orthodox economics for its failure to take account of the structural evolution of this non-economic environment. The papers gathered in these volumes show how Veblen's work has been received and modified from contemporary sources to the present day.
"Thorstein Veblen: Critical Assessments" is the fifteenth work in the Routledge series of "Critical Assessments of Leading Economists and Contemporary Economists." Each set presents a comprehensive selection of the critical literature on the life and works of a leading economist.