Description
Book SynopsisThe essays in this book discuss human behavior and the institutions of capitalism. The essays are non-technical and are written so as to be accessible to students of all disciplines and to all other persons interested in capitalism and in economic behavior.
Trade ReviewReview of the hardback: 'This lovely set of essays provides a small intellectual feast. The readings are a delight for the thoughtful economist and should be an excellent supplement for any number of undergraduate or graduate economic courses or law school offerings. Demsetz's economics is the lively engagement with fundamental questions such as the root of property rights, the delayed emergence of capitalism, and declining family size. He demonstrates the power of simple straightforward economic instincts and principles when wielded by a sharp mind aided by a fluid pen to enlighten important social questions.' Lloyd Cohen, George Mason University
Review of the hardback: 'Harold Demsetz's contributions to economics are well known for their simple originality and have laid important foundations in many areas of economics. With this book, Harold Demsetz continues to spoil his audience with a wide-ranging array of novel and thought-provoking essays.' Francesco Parisi, University of Minnesota and University of Bologna
Review of the hardback: '… From Economic Man to Economic System is an excellent piece of research, which focuses on various economic discussions of individual behavior and the behaviour of economic institutions. Tackling the important issues of self-interest and capitalism and its institutions, it is worthwhile reading for everyone who is interested in economic decisions and economic institutions.' Friedrich Schneider, Johannes Kepler University of Linz
Review of the hardback: 'From Economic Man to Economic System brings Harold Demsetz's deep learning and analytical insights to bear on ongoing intellectual debates addressing the efficiency (and efficacy) of unfettered market capitalism, the regulation of environmental quality and the modern business corporation, and the causes of the wealth of nations. The … essays collected here are uniformly well crafted and thought-provoking. The product of a lifetime of reflection by one of the economics profession's most penetrating thinkers, From Economic Man to Economic System will be of interest to economists, legal scholars and many others.' William F. Shughart, II, F. A. P. Barnard Distinguished Professor of Economics, University of Mississippi
Table of Contents1. Where economic man dwells; 2. Economic man's escape from Mathus's population trap; 3. Protecting you from yourself; 4. Rescuing economic man from the selfish gene; 5. Crossing disciplinary boundaries; 6. The late arrival of capitalism; 7. Ownership and exchange; 8. Reinterpreting the externality problem; 9. Firms and households as substitutes; 10. The contrast between firms and political parties; 11. The public corporation: its ownership and control; 12. Public policy's indirect effects on the control, organization, and importance of firms.
