The Economy of Esteem

This book argues that people care about the opinion that others hold of them and that the actions they take to raise the esteem they enjoy produce social patterns which in turn affect individual economic behaviour. Written by an economist and a philosopher Part One introduces the concept of human beings as esteem-seeking esteem-giving creatures and points the way towards an economy of esteem. Part Two illustrates that economy in practice while Part Three considers how we might hope to mobilize the forces of esteem in a well-designed political and social order.