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Thorstein Veblen's theory of institutional change: beyond technological determinism

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  • Olivier Brette

Abstract

The article presents a reappraisal of Veblen's theory of institutional change challenging the thesis of technological determinism, supported by some commentators of Veblen. According to this latter interpretation, Veblen would consider institutional change as stemming from an exogenous transformation of the material and technical environment. But such a thesis disregards the significance of cultural determinism in Veblen's system. Taking this into account leads to argue that Veblen analyses institutional change as an emergent effect of the dynamics of interactions between instincts, institutions and the infrastructural conditions. Finally, Veblen's theory of institutional change proves consistent with his research programme, aiming at producing a cumulative and on-teleological theory of institutional evolution, a theory in which behavioural determinants of human beings would be the main explicative variables.

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  • Olivier Brette, 2003. "Thorstein Veblen's theory of institutional change: beyond technological determinism," The European Journal of the History of Economic Thought, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 10(3), pages 455-477.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:eujhet:v:10:y:2003:i:3:p:455-477
    DOI: 10.1080/0967256032000106698
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    Cited by:

    1. Mario Coccia, 2020. "Effects of the institutional change based on democratization on origin and diffusion of technological innovation," Papers 2001.08432, arXiv.org.
    2. Virgile Chassagnon, 2014. "Toward a Social Ontology of the Firm: Reconstitution, Organizing Entity, Institution, Social Emergence and Power," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 124(2), pages 197-208, October.
    3. Olivier Brette & Nathalie Lazaric & Victor Vieira da Silva, 2017. "Habit, decision making, and rationality : comparing Veblen and early Herbert Simon," Post-Print halshs-01310305, HAL.
    4. Žigienė Gerda, 2018. "Presumptions of Decentralisation in the Context of Institutional and Political Economy," Management of Organizations: Systematic Research, Sciendo, vol. 80(1), pages 131-147, December.
    5. Nathalie Lazaric & Vanessa Oltra, 2012. "Sustainable Consumption in an Evolutionary Framework: How to Foster Behavioural Change?," Chapters, in: Blandine Laperche & Nadine Levratto & Dimitri Uzunidis (ed.), Crisis, Innovation and Sustainable Development, chapter 3, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    6. Zweynert, Joachim, 2007. "How can the History of Economic thought Contribute to an Understanding of Institutional Change?," Journal of the History of Economic Thought, Cambridge University Press, vol. 29(2), pages 189-211, June.
    7. Dieter Bögenhold & Panayotis G. Michaelides & Theofanis Papageorgiou, 2021. "Schumpeter, Veblen, and Bourdieu on Institutions and the Formation of Habits," Springer Books, in: Neglected Links in Economics and Society, chapter 0, pages 233-259, Springer.
    8. Bruno Tinel, 2005. "Remarks on technical determinism [Remarques à propos du déterminisme technique]," Post-Print halshs-00196377, HAL.
    9. Dilaver, Özge, 2014. "Involuntary technology adoptions: How consumer interdependencies lead to societal change," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 138-148.
    10. Christian Cordes, 2005. "Veblen’s “Instinct of Workmanship,” Its Cognitive Foundations, and Some Implications for Economic Theory," Journal of Economic Issues, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 39(1), pages 1-20, March.
    11. Ahmet Öncü, 2017. "On the Possibility of a “Soviet of Techniciansâ€," Review of Radical Political Economics, Union for Radical Political Economics, vol. 49(1), pages 67-82, March.
    12. Bruno Tinel, 2005. "Remarques à propos du déterminisme technique," Cahiers de la Maison des Sciences Economiques r05069, Université Panthéon-Sorbonne (Paris 1).
    13. Marie Dervillé, 2023. "Institutional insights into the adaptation capacities of sectoral communities: evidence from the restructuring of the dairy sectors in France and Germany," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 71(1), pages 61-91, August.

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