Treatise on Enterprise

Name: Treatise on Enterprise
ISBN: 9787100081733

凡勃伦The Commercial Press · ChinaApr 2023

4.1

Word count: 174K words
Chapters: 12
ISBN: 9787100081733

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Summary

The Theory of Business Enterprise is one of Veblen's major works, written during his years teaching at the University of Chicago, and it discusses the "modern capitalism" of the time. In a sense it is Veblen's Capital, analyzing the capitalist system from the two aspects of business and industry, taking a conservative reformist stance, catering to militant monarchy, rejecting socialism, and mourning the declining profit-making enterprise. Drawing on the German historical school's concept of stages of development, he criticized the era error committed by mainstream economics since Adam Smith in applying the monetary economy, and proposed a theory of stock capital. The many propositions advanced therein laid the foundation of the institutional school.

Editor's review

Veblen's The Theory of Business Enterprise is the concentrated expression of his institutional economics in the sphere of commerce, first published in 1904. The book is not an operational manual on how to run a business but a profound socioeconomic critique that dissects the nature, motives, and internal contradictions of the capitalist enterprise system. With his signature incisive pen, Veblen distinguishes "industry" (the production of useful goods) from "business" (profit as the ultimate end) and points out that under the modern credit economy the core goal of enterprise is often to obtain pecuniary gain through financial operations, capital valuation, and the "sabotage" of industry rather than to raise production efficiency or promote social welfare. This critique of "absentee ownership" and the "pecuniary emulation" cuts through a hundred years and remains striking today, offering a classic theoretical lens for understanding phenomena such as the膨胀 of financial capital and the hollowing out of the real economy. This Commercial Press translation is rigorous and reliable, a fine choice for engaging with Veblen's original thought. Reading the book requires some background in economics or sociology; its value lies not in offering immediately usable business strategies but in forging a critical perspective that helps us see through the surface of everyday economic phenomena to the institutional logic and power relations beneath.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Researchers and students interested in institutional economics and economic sociology
Readers wishing to understand the history and logic of the capitalist enterprise system in depth
Practitioners seeking to reflect on the nature of business from a macro perspective beyond management techniques
Readers who enjoyed Veblen's The Theory of the Leisure Class and wish to continue its line of thought

Not a good fit for

Pragmatists seeking concrete management methods or startup guides
Readers lacking interest in or patience for theoretical, critical socioeconomic analysis

Reading tips

Begin with Veblen's The Theory of the Leisure Class to grasp core concepts such as "conspicuous consumption" and "pecuniary emulation"; the present book will then read more smoothly
Relate the reading to current economic phenomena (such as capital market operations and corporate mergers) to appreciate the theory's contemporary reach
Some arguments rest on the American economic environment of a century ago; attend to the historical context and grasp the analytical framework rather than specific details

About the publisher

The Commercial Press China · Founded in 1897

The Commercial Press is a publisher known for classic works and academic publishing, with titles spanning Eastern philosophy, foreign literature, world history, social culture, and applied psychology. Its list includes classical commentaries such as Zhu Xi's Collected Commentaries on the Analects and Wang Bi's Commentary on the Zhouyi, as well as modern annotated translations like Zhuangzi with Modern Notes and Translation. In foreign literature it offers War and Peace and Crime and Punishment, while in world history it carries Braudel's The Mediterranean and the Mediterranean World in the Age of Philip II. Applied psychology is represented by Irvin D. Yalom's Existential Psychotherapy, and ethical texts include a Greek-Chinese-English edition of the Nicomachean Ethics. Its authors and translators include Zhu Xi, Wang Bi, Yalom, Braudel, and translators such as Huang Zheng, Zhang Yiling, Shen Dongyu, and Tang Jialong, balancing the editing of original texts with academic translation.

版权信息
原序
第一章引言
第二章机械操作
第三章企业
第四章企业原则
第五章贷放信用的使用
第六章现代企业资本
第七章现代福利理论
第八章法律与政治方面的企业原则
第九章机械操作在文化上的影响
第十章企业的自然衰落

FAQ

What is the relationship between The Theory of Business Enterprise and The Theory of the Leisure Class?

The Theory of the Leisure Class is Veblen's founding work of institutional economics, analyzing institutions and psychology in the sphere of consumption; The Theory of Business Enterprise systematically applies that framework to production and commerce, analyzing the enterprise system, the credit system, and capital operations in depth—a deepening and extension of the former. Together the two books constitute Veblen's classic critique of how capitalist society operates.

Is this book difficult for readers without an economics background?

It is somewhat challenging. Veblen's exposition combines theoretical depth with a distinctive terminology and is not popular reading. But interested non-specialists willing to invest thought can still gain much from it. It is advisable to read introductory articles on Veblen's thought first or to consult modern interpretations for support.

What are the features of this Commercial Press edition?

The Commercial Press's Chinese translations of academic classics are known for their rigor. This edition of The Theory of Business Enterprise is accurate in translation, preserves as far as possible the theoretical style and critical edge of the original, and usually includes necessary translator's notes or a publisher's note; it is one of the standard Chinese versions for studying Veblen's thought, suitable for serious reading and collection.

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About the author

凡勃伦 Author

Veblen is an author commonly classified under finance and economics in the Chinese book market. The library currently holds three of his works, with The Theory of the Leisure Class, The Theory of Business Enterprise, and The Theory of the Leisure Class as representative titles. Public information is limited regarding his English name, nationality, and dates of birth and death, and no confirmed details are available. Judging from the works, Veblen's writing centers on economic institutions, class division, and the operation of business, and he is skilled at placing abstract economic concepts within social customs and everyday behavior. His tone carries a critical and satirical edge, and he often examines the relationship between wealth, leisure, and consumption through the lens of institutional change. Rather than merely listing data, his arguments probe the social psychology and institutional inertia behind economic behavior, giving the work both theoretical sharpness and real-world relevance. Such works suit readers interested in economic thought and social structure.