From economic man to economic system

by Harold Demsetz

A collection of essays discussing human behaviour and the institutions of capitalism. The essays are non-technical and can be used by students of all disciplines interested in capitalism and in economic behaviour. They often present unconventional views of the topics they discuss. Those containing unconventional views discuss self-interested behaviour, selfish gene theory, the meaning and social function of private ownership, the externality problem, the nature of the firm, and the rise of capitalism. The essays offer a useful supplementary reading source for courses in business, economics, and law that deal with human behaviour in the marketplace and with capitalism, ownership, markets, and firms.