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Thorstein Veblen Quotes

Economist

Thorstein Veblen was an American economist known for his sociological perspective on economics and his critical analysis of economic theories. His work, 'The Theory of the Leisure Class,' had a profound impact on later economics and sociology.

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All Leisure Conspicuous Consumption Class Mean Aesthetic Goods Habit Waste Wealth Beautiful Business Community Consumption Effort Eye Individual Self Standards Use Apprehension

Famous Thorstein Veblen Quotes

“The changing styles are the expression of a restless search for something which shall commend itself to our aesthetic sense; but as each innovation is subject to the selective action of the norm of conspicuous waste, the range within which innovation can take place is somewhat restricted. The innovation must not only be more beautiful, or perhaps oftener less offensive, than that which it displaces, but it must also come up to the accepted standard of expensiveness.”

Action Beautiful Subjects Fashion Style Expression Waste Standards Innovation Come Up Accepted Range Aesthetic Offensive Norm Restless Selective

Book:A Veblen Treasury: From Leisure Class to War, Peace, and Capitalism

Source: A Veblen Treasury: From Leisure Class to War, Peace, and Capitalism

“It frequently happens that an element of the standard of living which set out with being primarily wasteful, ends with becoming, in the apprehension of the consumer, a necessary of life.”

Ends Happens Becoming Elements Standards Consumers Apprehension Standards Of Living

Book:A Veblen Treasury: From Leisure Class to War, Peace, and Capitalism

Source: A Veblen Treasury: From Leisure Class to War, Peace, and Capitalism

“A standard of living is of the nature of habit. ...it acts almost solely to prevent recession from a scale of conspicuous expenditure that has once become habitual.”

Habit Standards Scales Recessions Habitual Standards Of Living Expenditures

Book:THE THEORY OF THE LEISURE CLASS: An Economic Study of American Institutions and a Social Critique of Conspicuous Consumption: Development of Institutions That Shape Society and Influence the Livelihood of Citizens: Based on Sociological & Economical Theories of Charles Darwin, Karl Marx, Adam Smith and Herbert Spencer

Source: THE THEORY OF THE LEISURE CLASS: An Economic Study of American Institutions and a Social Critique of Conspicuous Consumption: Development of Institutions That Shape Society and Influence the Livelihood of Citizens: Based on Sociological & Economical Theories of Charles Darwin, Karl Marx, Adam Smith and Herbert Spencer

“In order to stand well in the eyes of the community, it is necessary to come up to a certain, somewhat indefinite, conventional standard of wealth.”

Life Wells Eye Success Certain Order Community Wealth Class Standards Come Up Conventional Conspicuous Consumption

Book:The Theory of the Leisure Class

Source: The Theory of the Leisure Class