Consumption as an Investment [Hardcover]

Perrotta explores and charts the changing place of consumption as a source of investment in production and growth within economic writings from ancient history to the present. This ambitious project is carried out with great skill, vigour and originality and will help to bring consumption studies into the mainstream of economic thought.I. Introduction: The Legacy of the Past  II. The Ancients and Inner Wealth  III. Patristics: End of the Contempt for Wealth and Labour  IV. Medieval Dualism: Poverty as an Ideal; Wealth as a Practical Goal  V. Italian Humanism Ignores Economic Development  VI. From Alms to Human Capital  VII. Spanish Unproductive Consumption  VIII. Expanding Production: A (Fearful) Hunger for Goods  IX. Productive and Unproductive Labour  X. Foreign Trade: Fostering Productive Consumption/ Productive Labour  XI. The Enlightenment Theory of Development: Consumption as an Investment