Greed, self-interest and the shaping of economics

Rudi Verburg*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Book / ReportBookAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Since 2008, profound questions have been asked about the driving forces and self-regulating potential of the economic system, political control and morality. With opinion turning against markets and self-interest, economists found themselves on the wrong side of the argument. This book explores how the past of economics can contribute to today’s debates. The book considers how economics took shape as philosophers probed into the viability of commercial society and its potential to generate positive-sum outcomes. It explains how dreams of affluence, morality and happiness were built upon human greed and vanity. It covers the bumpy road of the construction and reconstruction of this dream, exploring the debate on the foundations, conditions and limitations of the idea of the social utility of greed and vanity. Revisiting this debate provides a rich source of ideas in rethinking economics and the basic beliefs concerning our economic system today.

Original languageEnglish
Place of PublicationNew York, NY
PublisherRoutledge
Number of pages216
ISBN (Electronic)9781351977807
ISBN (Print)9781138285378
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Mar 2018

Publication series

NameRoutledge studies in the history of economics
PublisherRoutledge
Volume206

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