Contemporary mainstream economists see social wealth as the sum of individual incomes, but for three centuries many economists saw wealth as consisting of the public and private resources of a nation. This led them to explore the idea of unproductive labour, which provides a nation with an individual income, but does not contribute to an increase in social wealth or help to foster development. This book analyses the evolution of ideas surrounding unproductive labour, offering an unprecedented history that guides readers from the work of Petty through to the present economic crisis. This volume explores the work of several key scholars, including Smith, Petty, Marx, Ricardo, Mill, Say and Schumpeter. This book is suitable for scholars and researchers with an interest in the history of economic thought, labour economics and economic philosophy. Winner of the 2019 Ernest Lluch Prize from the Spanish Association of Economic History

Contemporary mainstream economists see social wealth as the sum of individual incomes, but for three centuries many economists saw wealth as consisting of the public and private resources of a nation. This led them to explore the idea of unproductive labour, which provides a nation with an individual income, but does not contribute to an increase in social wealth or help to foster development. This book analyses the evolution of ideas surrounding unproductive labour, offering an unprecedented history that guides readers from the work of Petty through to the present economic crisis. This volume explores the work of several key scholars, including Smith, Petty, Marx, Ricardo, Mill, Say and Schumpeter. This book is suitable for scholars and researchers with an interest in the history of economic thought, labour economics and economic philosophy. Winner of the 2019 Ernest Lluch Prize from the Spanish Association of Economic History

Perrotta explores and charts the changing place of consumption as a source of investment in production and growth within economic writings from ancient history to the present. This ambitious project is carried out with great skill, vigour and originality and will help to bring consumption studies into the mainstream of economic thought.

This book presents a new interpretation of the role of human capital and the state in driving economic development. It places these ideas within broader debates within the history of economic thought to highlight how the nature of economic activity is a collective and coordinated process. Through examining how the welfare state reversed traditional accumulation by relying on human capital growth, the importance of the state within the development process is emphasised, alongside the multifaceted nature of competition. Different forms of public expenditure are then evaluated to identify the most productive forms of public spending and the drivers of long term economic development. This book questions the relationship between profits and rent and proposes a new kind of economic development based around human capital. It will be relevant to students and researchers interested in the history of economic thought, the political economy, and labour economics.

There is a "missing idea" in economic thought: the relationship between an increase in consumption and increased productivity. It disappeared thanks to an attitude which Heckscher referred to as a "fear of goods." This book attempts to trace the absence of this idea, its origins and consequences, from ancient times to the present day.
Cosimo Perrotta seeks in these pages to establish the theoretical importance of the idea of "consumption as an investment" as well as to conduct an in-depth study into the changing and contradictory attitudes towards consumption in the history of economic thought.
Until now, there has been no book which has charted the history of consumption through the history economic thought. Thankfully, this volume fills the gap admirably and as such will greatly interest historians from many disciplines as well as economists generally.

The economic crisis of 2007/2008 has prompted much debate as to what caused it and what remedies may be implemented in order to regain a healthy economy. This book addresses these issues through the lens of capitalism with a focus on labour economics, arguing that capitalism, and the employment of young people and migrants, may be a suitable antidote to the ongoing political crises in Europe that are taking place as a result of the financial crisis. Using economic history and the history of economic thought to inform debate, Is Capitalism Still Progressive?: A Historical Approach will be of interest to policy makers (especially in emerging countries), students and researchers interested in exploring the pros and cons, and persistence, of the capitalist system.

The economic crisis of 2007/2008 has prompted much debate as to what caused it and what remedies may be implemented in order to regain a healthy economy. This book addresses these issues through the lens of capitalism with a focus on labour economics, arguing that capitalism, and the employment of young people and migrants, may be a suitable antidote to the ongoing political crises in Europe that are taking place as a result of the financial crisis. Using economic history and the history of economic thought to inform debate, Is Capitalism Still Progressive?: A Historical Approach will be of interest to policy makers (especially in emerging countries), students and researchers interested in exploring the pros and cons, and persistence, of the capitalist system.