Between Marginalism and Marxism

Unlike most of the recent literature on Schumpeter, which deals with his work from the standpoint of economics, Tom Bottomore's new study analyses Schumpeter as an economic sociologist or sociological economist. The book begins with an account of the intellectual and cultural milieu of Vienna in the years of Schumpeter's university studies and his early writings which was to provide the formative influences on his thought. Bottomore then examines critically his methodological views and the changes they underwent, both in relation to different philosophies of science and to the views of the Austrian school of economics and of Marxism, particularly the Austro-Marxists. The core of the book is devoted to studies of Schumpeter's major writings, discussed from the point of view of method, substantive content and argument. In conclusion, Bottomore assesses the nature and results of Schumpeter's economic sociology, comparing this to the work of Max Weber, some Marxist thinkers and other contributors to the field. He also sets out a new 'research programme' for economic sociology.