All Posts Tagged With: "Robert Frank"
From Economic Man to Economic System: Essays on Human Behavior and the Institutions of Capitalism
Harold Demsetz is among the ten most frequently cited economists in the world. What makes him worth reading is that he has made his mark not through virtuosity with empty formalism but rather by careful reasoning about fundamental questions and evidence. His latest book, From Economic Man to Economic System, continues that tradition. Demsetz considers [...]
23Sep2009 | Gary M. Galles | 2 comments | ContinuedFalling Behind: How Rising Inequality Harms the Middle Class
Robert Frank, a professor of economics at Cornell, has long argued that affluent Americans spend too much on conspicuous consumption, which he relabels “positional” goods. His favorite examples include big houses, expensive watches, barbecue grills, and wine. If Smith has more positional goods than Jones, then Jones is said to suffer “relative deprivation” because “what [...]
22Jan2009 | Alan Reynolds | 3 comments | ContinuedOther People’s Business
Social engineers never tire of conjuring up proofs for their own indispensability. These days those who subscribe to the “let me tell you how to live” ethic are disturbed by the explosion in consumption at all levels of society. So they have some proposals. There is nothing new, of course, in the spectacle of affluent [...]
1Dec1999 | Sheldon Richman | 0 comments | Continued-
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