Bohm-Bawerk, Eugen von. The Positive Theory of Capital. 1888. (Macmillan. 1891.) 428 pp.
One of the most brilliant and original contributions - if not the most brilliant and original - ever made to the theory of capital and interest. Bohm-Bawerk, declares the Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences, "was at a very early age one of the first to accept the teaching of Karl Menger, giving all his powers to the development and the defense of the subjective theory of value: it is to him that both the success and the formulation og the theory are largely due." According to Frank W. Taussig, The Positive Theory of Capital "is a landmark in the development of thought. As an intellectual performance, there are few books on economics in any language that can be ranked with it. One may not agree with all that is said, but the book bears the unmistakable impression of a great mind."
Thursday, March 05, 2009
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Bohm-Bawerk, Eugen von
Bohm-Bawerk, Eugen von. Karl Marx and the Close of His System. 1896, etc. London: Unwin. 221 pp.
Until the appearance of Socialism by Ludwig von Mises (q.v.), this was by far the best criticism of the economics of Karl Marx. For the points that it covers - chiefly the fallacies of the Marxian labor theory of value - it is still superb, unanswerable, and irreplaceable.
Until the appearance of Socialism by Ludwig von Mises (q.v.), this was by far the best criticism of the economics of Karl Marx. For the points that it covers - chiefly the fallacies of the Marxian labor theory of value - it is still superb, unanswerable, and irreplaceable.
Blum, Walter, and Kalven, Harvey, Jr.
Blum, Walter, and Kalven, Harvey, Jr. The Uneasy Case for Progressive Taxation. University of Chicago Press. 1953. 107 pp.
"Progressive-tax theory has been due for an overhauling, and the authors do a highly competent job. ... The work is distinguished by penetrating analysis, comprehensive coverage of sources, and excellent documentation ... Rates high honors in the field." - Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science.
"Progressive-tax theory has been due for an overhauling, and the authors do a highly competent job. ... The work is distinguished by penetrating analysis, comprehensive coverage of sources, and excellent documentation ... Rates high honors in the field." - Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science.
Monday, March 02, 2009
Berlin, Isaiah
Berlin, Isaiah. Historical Inevitability. Oxford University Press. 1954. 79 pp.
The main purpose of this lecture is to consider a tendency which has, in the West, been growing since the eighteenth century, to regard human history as the product of impersonal "forces" obeying "inexorable" laws; with the implied consequence that individual human beings are seldom responsible for bringing about situations for which they are commonly praised or blamed, since the real culprit is "the historical process" itself - which individuals can do little to influence. "A magnificent assertion of the reality of human freedom, of the role of free choice in history." - London Economist.
The main purpose of this lecture is to consider a tendency which has, in the West, been growing since the eighteenth century, to regard human history as the product of impersonal "forces" obeying "inexorable" laws; with the implied consequence that individual human beings are seldom responsible for bringing about situations for which they are commonly praised or blamed, since the real culprit is "the historical process" itself - which individuals can do little to influence. "A magnificent assertion of the reality of human freedom, of the role of free choice in history." - London Economist.
Berger-Perrin, Rene
Berger-Perrin, Rene. Vitalite Liberale. Paris: Editions SEDIF. 1953. 93 pp.
M. Berger-Perrin is Secretary General of L'Association de l'Enterprise a Capital Personnel. "After a quarter of a century of the predominance of authoritarian and collectivist ideas," he writes, "liberal thought today is reappearing with increased force and profundity." To prove this he has put together a little anthology of excerpts from more than fifty writers - French, English, American, German, Norwegian, Swiss, Dutch, mexican, etc. These include not only economists, but sociologists, hostorians, journalists, and businessmen.
M. Berger-Perrin is Secretary General of L'Association de l'Enterprise a Capital Personnel. "After a quarter of a century of the predominance of authoritarian and collectivist ideas," he writes, "liberal thought today is reappearing with increased force and profundity." To prove this he has put together a little anthology of excerpts from more than fifty writers - French, English, American, German, Norwegian, Swiss, Dutch, mexican, etc. These include not only economists, but sociologists, hostorians, journalists, and businessmen.
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