论闲逸阶级The Theory of the Leisure Class（导读注释本）（世界学术经典系列）

作者简介

【作者简介】：凡勃伦，美国经济学家、社会评论家，制度经济学派创始人。《论闲逸阶级》作为他的成名作，确立了他在美国经济学研究领域独树一帜的地位。从本书衍生出的“凡勃伦商品”“凡勃伦效应”等词仍是当代经济学研究的重要术语。

内容简介

\"【精彩书摘】： 1. The occupations of the class are correspondingly diversified; but they have the common econimic characteristic of being non-industrial. These non-industrial upper-class occupations may be roughly comprised under government, warfare, religious obsevances, and sports. 2. Activity is, therefore, assimilated to human action, and active objects are in so far assimilated to the human agent. Phenomena of this character -- especially those whose behaviour is notably formidable or baffling-- have to be met in a different spirit and with proficiency of a different kind from what is required in dealing with inert things. To deal successfully with such phenomuna is a work of exploit rather than of industry. It is an assertion of prowess, not of dilligence. 3. Those members of the community who fall short of this, somewhat indefinite, normal degree of prowess or of property suffer in the esteem of their fellow-men; and consequently they suffer also in their own esteem, since the usual basis of self-respect is the respect of accorded by one's neighbours. Only individuals with an aberrant temperament can in the long run retain their self-esteem in the face of the disesteem of their fellows. Apparent exceptions to the rule are met with, especially among people with strong religious convictions. But these apparent exceptions are scarcely real exceptions, since such persons commonly fall back on the putative approbation of some supernatural witness of their deeds. 4. Refined tastes, mannners, habits of life are a useful evidence of gentility, because good breeding requires time, application and expense, and can therefore not be compassed by those whose time and energu are taken up with work. 5. So much of the honourable life of leisure as is not spent in the sight of spectators can seve the purposes of reputability only in so far as it leaves a tangible, visible result that can be put in evidence and can be measured and compared with products of the same class exhibited by competing aspirants of repute. Some such effect, in the way of leisurely manners and carriage, etc., follows from simple persistent abstention from work, even where the subject does not take thought of the matter and studiously acquire an aire of leisurely opulence and mastery. Especially does it seem to be true that a life of leisure in this way persisted in through several generations will leave a persistent, ascertainable effect in the conformation of the person, and still more in his habitual bearing and demeanour. \" 【编辑推荐】：凡勃伦笔下的闲逸阶级不仅有闲，而且有钱。他们不仅厌恶、脱离生产劳动，且用尽一切方法避免和劳动沾上半点关系。他们消费并非为实用之故，而为炫耀之名。他们穿衣并非遮风挡雨，而为显山露水。《论闲逸阶级》于1899年问世，但在一百多年后的今天，当年美国社会种种炫耀消费之风不消反涨，经久不衰，且已在世界各个地方都留有其印记。