The Theory of Business Enterprise

2021 Reprint of the 1958 Edition. Full facsimile of the original edition and not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software. The businessman-his motives, aims, methods and effects-is the subject of this compelling survey of the economics of early 20th century life. Veblen's book analyzes the development of the industrial system and describes the influence of business principles and practice on such basic aspects as law, politics, warfare, education literature and the press. Veblen believed that to understand our present society and to speculate intelligently about its future, "no single factor in the cultural situation has an importance equal to that of the businessman and his work."

"Veblen is one of a handful of writers to significantly change the mind of America." Portland Telegram

"Veblen is one of the half-dozen important figures in scholarship that America has produced since the Civil War." Lewis Mumford.

Contents: Introductory -- The machine process -- Business enterprise -- Business principles -- The use of loan credit -- Modern business capital -- The theory of modern welfare -- Business principles in law and politics -- The cultural incidence of the machines process -- The natural decay of business enterprise.
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