Publication Date

3-15-2015

Document Type

Working Paper

Advisor

Professor John Hall

Journal of Economic Literature Classification Codes

O14, O15, O33, O52

Key Words

Economic development, Human capital, Machine process, State intervention, Technology transfer, Thorstein Veblen

Abstract

This inquiry summarizes and analyzes Thorstein Veblen’s explanations for Imperial Germany’s rapid industrialization. In his book Imperial Germany and the Industrial Revolution, Thorstein Veblen introduces a comprehensive understanding of processes affecting economic development. Technology transfer, human capital and state intervention are the variables that transformed an agrarian feudal Germany into industrialized Imperial Germany. Instead of developing technology over time by trial and error, Germany just transferred already established technology to their country. Since Germany had no established institution they could set up the most modern technologies. The machine process of the industrial system renders it easy to train workers with new skills that have application in a widespread of industries. State intervention compelled the industrialization process since the social and political culture of Germany allowed for a strong invasive state to force rapid development. Even though these variables explain Germany’s rapid industrialization they can also be applied to the economic development of any country.

Rights

© Cesar Maldonado

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/28861

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