This book discusses Samuel Pufendorf and his contributions to the development of the European Enlightenment and the emergence of economics as a social science. Born in 1632 in Saxony, Pufendorf wrote widely on natural law, ethics, jurisprudence, and political economy and was one of the most important figures in early-modern political thought. Although his work fits within the intellectual framework of natural jurisprudence, there is an argument to be made that his ideas promoted the development of economics as a distinct discipline within the social sciences. Written by participants in the 34th Heilbronn Symposion in Economics and the Social Sciences, the contributions to this volume give an overview of Pufendorf's influence on other authors of the Enlightenment, such as Locke, Montesquieu, and Rousseau, as well as addressing the theoretical implications of his extensive writings. Further chapters place a special focus on Pufendorf's discussion of economic matters, such as property rights theory, price theory, taxation, and preferences and decision-making. The book concludes with analyzing Pufendorf's influence on Adam Smith, his anticipations of elements of modern economic theory, and his impact on the history of economic thought. Providing a fresh look at one of the foundational scholars of social science, this volume will be of interest to researchers and students of the history of economic thought, political economy, economic history, and political philosophy.

Joseph Alois Schumpeter is arguably the most important economist of the 20th century. Most readers are familiar with his Theory of Economic Development and his classic Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy. Less well-known are his seminal works published before he left Europe for the United States in 1942. In particular for the first time the missing Chapter Seven of his Theory of Economic Development has been published in this volume. It tries to put Economic Development into the broader context of culture, law and policy. Many of his earlier writings display a similar integrative approach and are therefore often treated as sociological writings. As Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy shows, he did not dissociate the different social sciences in his own mind but rather strove to keep the unity of the social sciences. Entrepreneurship, style and vision are the unifying concepts of his work.

Hayek's theory of cultural evolution has always generated controversy. Interest in Hayek's theory, and others' analysis and criticism of it, has been rising of late. This volume urges a reconsideration of Hayeks' theory of evolution and aims to explore the relevance of Hayek's theory for its own sake and for evolutionary economics more generally. Entrepreneurship, Money and Coordination includes chapters written by leading academics on: * Hayek's theory of the mind * the evolution of legal rules * Hayek and the evolution of designed institutions: a critical assessment * entrepreneurship in the theory of cultural evolution * Hayek's 'free money movement' and the evolution of monetary order in historical perspective * the evolution and cultural function of money. This book will be of particular interest to academics and scholars of Austrian and evolutionary economics, as well as economic theorists.

Evolutionary Economic Thought explores the theoretical roots of the evolutionary approach, and in so doing, demonstrates how it fits squarely into the theoretical mainstream. Focusing on the institutions of evolutionary change and the processes - such as competition - that generate change, this book takes account of important European contributions to the discipline, hitherto overshadowed by the American paradigm. As such, the book serves to broaden the current discourse. Whilst evolutionary economics itself is a well-researched and widely documented field, this book will be credited with establishing a history of evolutionary economic thought. The contributors attempt to answer an important set of questions on how economies develop, using the theories of social economists such as Hobson, Marx, Menger, Schmoller, Sombart and Wagner. Historical, empirical, and theoretical perspectives on evolutionary economic change are also drawn upon. This highly original book will appeal to those with an interest in evolutionary economics, economic development and the history of economic thought.

Austrian economics is often criticized as being hostile to empirical research and seen purely as an ideology. In contrast, the purpose of this book is to show that Austrian economics provides an interesting approach to most conceivable subjects in economics. Edited by Jurgen G. Backhaus, this comprehensive volume includes Austrian analysis of: health economics labour economics taxation business cycle theory property rights. Contributors include Roger Koppl, Bart Nooteboom, Larry Moss, Dick Wagner and Gerrit Meijer, and this significant book will prove invaluable to students of economics and will make interesting reading for applied economists in any area of application.

This thoroughly updated and revised edition of a popular and authoritative reference work introduces the reader to the major concepts and leading contributors in the field of law and economics. The Companion features accessible, informative and provocative entries on all the significant issues, and breaks new ground by bringing together widely dispersed yet theoretically congruent ideas. Following a comprehensive introduction by the editor, the renowned contributors look in detail at several critical areas including: * fundamentals of the law and economics approach * private law and economics * public law and economics * labour law and economics * regulation, taxation and public enterprise * dispute resolution * different sources of the law * economic analysis of a legal problem * classical authors in law and economics. Students and scholars interested in a comprehensive and rigorous overview of the field of law and economics will find this volume to be a unique and welcome resource. The Companion will also have a broad appeal amongst industrial economists and historians of economic thought.

Austrian economics is often criticized as being hostile to empirical research and seen purely as an ideology. In contrast, the purpose of this book is to show that Austrian economics provides an interesting approach to most conceivable subjects in economics. Edited by JA1/4rgen G. Backhaus, this comprehensive volume includes Austrian analysis of:

• health economics
• labour economics
• taxation
• business cycle theory
• property rights.

Contributors include Roger Koppl, Bart Nooteboom, Larry Moss, Dick Wagner and Gerrit Meijer, and this significant book will prove invaluable to students of economics and will make interesting reading for applied economists in any area of application.

This authoritative and comprehensive reference work introduces the reader to the major concepts and leading contributors in the field of law and economics.The Companion features accessible, informative and provocative entries on all the significant areas and breaks new ground by bringing together widely dispersed but theoretically congruent ideas for the first time. An important feature of the book is the inclusion of 26 scholarly biographies of the founding fathers of law and economics. As a major source of reference on law and economics, the Companion will be welcomed by both students and teachers in law and economics, and will also have relevance for industrial economists and historians of economic thought.

This book discusses Samuel Pufendorf and his contributions to the development of the European Enlightenment and the emergence of economics as a social science. Born in 1632 in Saxony, Pufendorf wrote widely on natural law, ethics, jurisprudence, and political economy and was one of the most important figures in early-modern political thought. Although his work fits within the intellectual framework of natural jurisprudence, there is an argument to be made that his ideas promoted the development of economics as a distinct discipline within the social sciences. Written by participants in the 34th Heilbronn Symposion in Economics and the Social Sciences, the contributions to this volume give an overview of Pufendorf's influence on other authors of the Enlightenment, such as Locke, Montesquieu, and Rousseau, as well as addressing the theoretical implications of his extensive writings. Further chapters place a special focus on Pufendorf's discussion of economic matters, such as property rights theory, price theory, taxation, and preferences and decision-making. The book concludes with analyzing Pufendorf's influence on Adam Smith, his anticipations of elements of modern economic theory, and his impact on the history of economic thought. Providing a fresh look at one of the foundational scholars of social science, this volume will be of interest to researchers and students of the history of economic thought, political economy, economic history, and political philosophy.

Joseph Alois Schumpeter is arguably the most important economist of the 20th century. Most readers are familiar with his Theory of Economic Development and his classic Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy. Less well-known are his seminal works published before he left Europe for the United States in 1942. In particular for the first time the missing Chapter Seven of his Theory of Economic Development has been published in this volume. It tries to put Economic Development into the broader context of culture, law and policy. Many of his earlier writings display a similar integrative approach and are therefore often treated as sociological writings. As Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy shows, he did not dissociate the different social sciences in his own mind but rather strove to keep the unity of the social sciences. Entrepreneurship, style and vision are the unifying concepts of his work.

This authoritative and comprehensive reference work introduces the reader to the major concepts and leading contributors in the field of law and economics.The Companion features accessible, informative and provocative entries on all the significant areas and breaks new ground by bringing together widely dispersed but theoretically congruent ideas for the first time. An important feature of the book is the inclusion of 26 scholarly biographies of the founding fathers of law and economics. As a major source of reference on law and economics, the Companion will be welcomed by both students and teachers in law and economics, and will also have relevance for industrial economists and historians of economic thought.

This well-documented book discusses the power and limitations of class actions with insights and analysis from a panel of distinguished scholars. It pays special attention to the introduction and the applicability of such a legal device in European civil law countries. The book offers a broad legal and economic investigation, drawing insights from US judicial experience and giving a rigorous discussion of both the philosophical and constitutional aspects and the economic mechanisms and incentives set up by class actions. The Law and Economics of Class Actions in Europe will be a welcome addition to the bookshelf of all those interested in the function of class action litigation for promoting justice and efficiency. In particular, it will benefit graduate and postgraduate students, researchers and academics in law, economics, and law and economics, policy makers, judges and attorneys. Contributors: J.G. Backhaus, G. Calabresi, A. Cassone, M.S. Cenini, B. Deffains, F. Denozza, N. Garoupa, A. Gidi, F. Gomez, M.F. Gouveia, S. Harnay, S. Issacharoff, E. Langlais, J. Luther, A. Marciano, G.P. Miller, F. Parisi, G.B. Ramello, L. Sacconi, M.I. Saez, F.M. Scherer, L. Toffoletti, T.S. Ulen, M. Valimaki

The essays collected in this "liber amicorum" or "Festschrift" were written in order to pay respect to Gerrit Meijer, a genuine scholar who will retire as reader from Maastricht University on October 17, 2003. His career has involved extensive teaching at all levels, characterized by great erudition, diligence, empathy, and willingness to speak his mind. This stubbornness not to go with intellectual fashions is an extremely important asset in the social sciences. It was his lonely voice in a hostile environment that held up the recognition of European traditions in economic thought which others were willing to either forget or set aside or else never learn. In this sense, the current intellectual landscape in the Netherlands, but not only there, is different from what it would have been had Gerrit Meijer not exerted his influence. Hence, it is no surprise that such a large group of scholars, all somehow related to Gerrit's efforts, have contributed to this volume.

Introduction Europe in Progress, Model and Facts is the second volume in the series Europe's Economic Future launched in 1994. It is in keeping with the will expressed by the University Robert Schuman and implemented by CESAG, the research centre of IECS Strasburg, to observe and to analyse European reality; not through idealized models or abstract diagrams but out in the real world, close to the lives and actions of Europe's citizens and companies. This research, undertaken by leading academic figures of different countries, offers a wide spectrum of reality in evolution and Europe's characteristic diversity. This diversity appears to be both a blessing and a handicap because the adaptation process linked to European integration and the definition of global competitive strategies demands unequal efforts. It is therefore understandable that uncertainties arise, that tensions appear amongst partners who, in some areas of social economic or financial life, stand together but refuse a constraining solidarity in other areas. However one thing is certain: Europe's construction progresses step by step. This deep-seated reality is enhanced by cross-border investments, by the setting up of common rules and standards, by the creation of collective, common instruments, by factor mobility, by intensified exchanges of goods and services, by improved understanding of behaviours and cultures and by learning from others. Europe, with twelve members or more, has a socio-economic life "per se" which, with the adjustment of varying difficulties, is on the road to improvement.