About the book
An argument that conceiving of economic value as a social force makes it possible to develop a new and more powerful theory of market behavior.
With the advent of the 2007–2008 financial crisis, the economics profession itself entered into a crisis of legitimacy from which it has yet to emerge. Despite the obviousness of their failures, however, economists continue to rely on the same methods and to proceed from the same underlying assumptions. André Orléan challenges the neoclassical paradigm in this book, with a new way of thinking about perhaps its most fundamental concept, economic value.
Orléan argues that value is not bound up with labor, or utility, or any other property that preexists market exchange. Economic value, he contends, is a social force whose vast sphere of influence, amounting to a kind of empire, extends to every aspect of economic life. Markets are based on the identification of value with money, and exchange value can only be regarded as a social institution. Financial markets, for example, instead of defining an extrinsic, objective value for securities, act as a mechanism for arriving at a reference price that will be accepted by all investors. What economists must therefore study,
Orléan urges, is the hold that value has over individuals and how it shapes their perceptions and behavior.
Awarded the prestigious Prix Paul Ricoeur on its original publication in France in 2011, The Empire of Value has been substantially revised and enlarged for this edition, with an entirely new section discussing the financial crisis of 2007–2008.
Editions of The Empire of Value
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780262026970
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780262549585
- EBook
- ISBN 9780262323895
- EBook
- ISBN 9780262323901
- EBook
- ISBN 9780262323918
Read an Excerpt
An argument that conceiving of economic value as a social force makes it possible to develop a new and more powerful theory of market behavior.
With the advent of the 2007–2008 financial crisis, the economics profession itself entered into a crisis of legitimacy from which it has yet to emerge. Despite the obviousness of their failures, however, economists continue to rely on the same methods and to proceed from the same underlying assumptions. André Orléan challenges the neoclassical paradigm in this book, with a new way of thinking about perhaps its most fundamental concept, economic value.
Orléan argues that value is not bound up with labor, or utility, or any other property that preexists market exchange. Economic value, he contends, is a social force whose vast sphere of influence, amounting to a kind of empire, extends to every aspect of economic life. Markets are based on the identification of value with money, and exchange value can only be regarded as a social institution. Financial markets, for example, instead of defining an extrinsic, objective value for securities, act as a mechanism for arriving at a reference price that will be accepted by all investors. What economists must therefore study,
Orléan urges, is the hold that value has over individuals and how it shapes their perceptions and behavior.
Awarded the prestigious Prix Paul Ricoeur on its original publication in France in 2011, The Empire of Value has been substantially revised and enlarged for this edition, with an entirely new section discussing the financial crisis of 2007–2008.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Empire of Value about?
An argument that conceiving of economic value as a social force makes it possible to develop a new and more powerful theory of market behavior.
With the advent of the 2007–2008 financial crisis, the economics profession itself entered into a crisis of legitimacy from which it has yet to emerge. Despite the obviousness of their failures, however, economists continue to rely on the same methods and to proceed from the same underlying assumptions. André Orléan challenges the neoclassical paradigm in this book, with a new way of thinking about perhaps its most fundamental concept, economic value.
Orléan argues that value is not bound up with labor, or utility, or any other property that preexists market exchange. Economic value, he contends, is a social force whose vast sphere of influence, amounting to a kind of empire, extends to every aspect of economic life. Markets are based on the identification of value with money, and exchange value can only be regarded as a social institution. Financial markets, for example, instead of defining an extrinsic, objective value for securities, act as a mechanism for arriving at a reference price that will be accepted by all investors. What economists must therefore study,
Orléan urges, is the hold that value has over individuals and how it shapes their perceptions and behavior.
Awarded the prestigious Prix Paul Ricoeur on its original publication in France in 2011, The Empire of Value has been substantially revised and enlarged for this edition, with an entirely new section discussing the financial crisis of 2007–2008.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The Empire of Value?
Economics, Finance, Business and Management > Economics > Economics of specific sectors
Where can I read a sample of The Empire of Value?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780262026970
Is The Empire of Value part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series Philosophical Psychopathology
Who is/are the Author/s of the book The Empire of Value?
Andre Orlean
Who is the Publisher of the book The Empire of Value?
MIT Press
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
The Empire of Value is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780262026970) and paperback(ISBN 9780262549585) and ebook(ISBN 9780262323895) and ebook(ISBN 9780262323901) and ebook(ISBN 9780262323918)
Where can I buy The Empire of Value online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy The Empire of Value from below
Where can I buy The Empire of Value?