Quick Facts
Conspicuous consumption" critic: Veblen skewered wealth, leisure, and status.
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Life Journey
Thorstein Veblen was born to Norwegian immigrant parents, Thomas and Kari Veblen, on a farm in Cato, Wisconsin. The family later moved to a farm near Wheeling Township, Minnesota.
Veblen begins his education at Carleton College, a small liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, where he excels in philosophy and history under the tutelage of John Bates Clark.
Veblen graduates from Carleton College with a strong foundation in philosophy, economics, and the social sciences, setting the stage for his future academic pursuits.
Veblen marries Ellen Rolfe, a former classmate from Carleton College. Their marriage is marked by a complex and sometimes strained relationship, influenced by Veblen's unconventional views and lifestyle.
Veblen enrolls in the graduate program at Johns Hopkins University, where he studies philosophy and economics. However, he leaves without completing his degree due to financial constraints.
Veblen transfers to Cornell University to continue his graduate studies. He earns his Ph.D. in philosophy in 1884, focusing on the works of Kant and the history of economic thought.
Veblen is appointed to a position at the University of Chicago, where he teaches economics and sociology. His innovative and critical approach to economic theory begins to gain attention.
Veblen publishes his most famous work, 'The Theory of the Leisure Class,' which critiques the consumption patterns of the wealthy and introduces the concept of 'conspicuous consumption.'
Veblen resigns from the University of Chicago due to personal and professional conflicts, including his unconventional lifestyle and alleged affairs. He moves on to Stanford University.
Veblen publishes 'The Higher Learning in America,' a critique of the influence of business on higher education. The book further solidifies his reputation as a radical thinker and social critic.
Thorstein Veblen dies in his home in Menlo Park, California, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most influential and controversial economists and social theorists of his time.