Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/147495 
Authors: 
Year of Publication: 
2015
Series/Report no.: 
TUC Working Papers in Economics No. 15
Publisher: 
Technische Universität Clausthal, Abteilung für Volkswirtschaftslehre, Clausthal-Zellerfeld
Abstract: 
Before economists and sociologists came up with their own definitions of the term "capital", it was commonly understood as money invested in businesses by their owners or shareholders, and it continues to be understood this way in everyday business practice. In a recent article, Geoffrey Hodgson (2014) advises economists to return to this pre-Smithian usage of the term. The present paper takes up Hodgson's demand and develops a theory of capital that is based upon this business notion of capital. It also argues that the Austrian theory of capital, if interpreted correctly, can serve as a starting point. Despite the conviction of its adherents to the contrary, the Austrian theory of capital is not universal or ahistorical, but dovetails with Hodgson's vision of an approach to capital which analyses historically specific features of capitalism.
Subjects: 
Capital Theory
Capitalism
Austrian Economics
Institutional Economics
JEL: 
B25
B26
D24
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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