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nydus/The Theory of Business EnterprisePublic

Thorstein Veblen examines the modern industrial system as a structure defined by the machine process and investment for profit. He analyzes how business enterprise and the pursuit of financial gain serve as the primary forces directing contemporary economic organization.

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Table of Contents

Business Enterprise

L of the I

50 THE THKOKY OF, BUSINESS ENTERPRISE

commonly not initiated by the business men.^epgaged in these commercial pursuita. Coouncirci^ll business, simply as Buch, does not aim to guide the course of industry.

■On the other hand, the large business enterprise spoken of above initiates changes in uaduflT trial organization and seeks its gain in large p^J^t through such alterations of value levels as t^ke I place on its own initiative. These alterations ,of I the value levels, of oourae, have their effect uppp I the output o£ goods and upon the mStt^uriaL, vqIt fare of the community ; but the effect which ,tb^J have in this way is only incidental to the quest, pf profits.

But apart from this remoter and larger guidance ^ the course of industry, the business men also, and' more persistently and pervasively, exercise & guidance over the course of industry in. .detailThe production of goods and services is carried on for gain, and the output of gooda ia controlled by business men with a view to gain. Commonly:, 'in ordinary routine business, the gains, cdr^ fix>m this output of goods and services. By tjie sale of the output the business man in indup^ry " realizes " his gains. To ." realize " means , to convert sal hie goods into money values. . T^ sale is the last step in the process and the end of the business man's endeavor.' When he^hfla

:, KapUal. bh. I. pt. II, ,

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