Veblen on the Decline of the Protestant Ethic

Davis, Arthur K.

doi:10.2307/2571971

Cited by 7 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…Meanwhile, nobody has made a systematic attempt to verify the theory itself. Thus, although some aspects of Veblen's general theory have been considered from time to time (for examples, see Adorno 1967;Davis 1944), the theory of conspicuous consumption has yet to be examined critically. Consequently the purpose of this paper is less to focus on a neglected theorist than on a neglected theory, and to focus in particular on two crucial issues.…”

Section: Erstone 1991; Jameson 1987) As Well As the Widespread Use Mmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conspicuous Confusion? A Critique of Veblen's Theory of Conspicuous Consumption

Campbell¹

1995

Sociological Theory

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Section: Erstone 1991; Jameson 1987) As Well As the Widespread Use Mmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conspicuous Confusion? A Critique of Veblen's Theory of Conspicuous Consumption

Campbell¹

1995

Sociological Theory

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“…Hence income is taken as a least common factor, a rough index of achievement. It is an easy step from there to the emphasis on display and conspicuous consumption which Veblen noted so clearly” (: 284).…”

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confidence: 99%

Degraded Work, Declining Community, Rising Inequality, and the Transformation of the Protestant Ethic inAmerica: 1870–1930

Wisman¹,

Davis²

2013

American J Econ Sociol

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The Protestant ethic has been depicted as declining in America between 1870 and 1930, due to new consumer durables and less rewarding work. This study finds that the Protestant ethic did not so much decline as become transformed. The work ethic remained in force, while frugality weakened. This transformation is traced to three dynamic social forces: degradation in the quality of work due to industrialization, the decline of community with urbanization, and a dramatic increase in inequality. Consequently, social respect and social standing came increasingly to be sought through consumption, which became a proxy for hard work, entailing a weakening of asceticism.

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Conspicuous Confusion? A Critique of Veblen’s Theory of Conspicuous Consumption

Campbell

2021

Consumption and Consumer Society

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Veblen on the Decline of the Protestant Ethic

Cited by 7 publications

References 0 publications

Conspicuous Confusion? A Critique of Veblen's Theory of Conspicuous Consumption

Conspicuous Confusion? A Critique of Veblen's Theory of Conspicuous Consumption

Degraded Work, Declining Community, Rising Inequality, and the Transformation of the Protestant Ethic inAmerica: 1870–1930

Conspicuous Confusion? A Critique of Veblen’s Theory of Conspicuous Consumption

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