Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Schumpeter and Talcott Parsons

  • Regular Article
  • Published:
Journal of Evolutionary Economics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This article looks at the relationship between Joseph Schumpeter and sociologist Talcott Parsons. The two met in the late 1920s at Harvard University, where both were teaching. At the time Parsons was a young instructor, while Schumpeter was an established economist; and as a result Schumpeter influenced Parsons much more than the other way around. Parsons especially appreciated Schumpeter’s view of economic theory. Their relationship continued in this way, with Schumpeter mainly influencing Parsons even if he also could keep an eye on what was happening in sociologythrough Parsons.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alexander J (1983) Theoretical logic in sociology. The modern reconstruction of classical thought: Talcott Parsons, vol 4. University of California Press, Berkeley

    Google Scholar 

  • Allen RL (1991) Opening doors: the life and work of Joseph Schumpeter, vol 2. Transaction Publishers, New Brunswick

    Google Scholar 

  • Chandler A (1991) The essential Alfred Chandler. In: McCraw T (ed). Harvard Business School Press, Boston

  • Crandall R (1960) The research center in entrepreneurial history at Harvard University, 1948-1958. A historical sketch. Cambridge: Privately printed

  • Fox R, Lidz V, Bershady H (2005) After Parsons: a theory of social action for the twenty-first century. Russell Sage Foundation, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Heyt B (1968) The Harvard Pareto circle. J Hist Behav Sci 4(4):316–334

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hitotsubashi University Library (1962) The catalogue of Prof. Schumpeter Library. Hitotsubashi University Library, Tokyo

  • McCraw T (1988) Introduction: the intellectual odyssey of Alfred D Chandler, Jr. In: McCraw T (ed) The essential Alfred Chandler. Harvard Business School Press, Boston, pp 1–21

    Google Scholar 

  • Parsons T (1931) Wants and activities in marshall. Q J Econ 46:101–140

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parsons T (1932) Economics and sociology: marshall in relation to the thought of his time. Q J Econ 46:316–347

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parsons T (1934) Some reflections on the nature and significance of economics. Q J Econ 48:511–545

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parsons T (1939) The professions and social structure. Soc Forces 17(4):457–467

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parsons T (1940) An analytical approach to the theory of social stratification. A J Sociol 44(6):841–862

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parsons T (1941) Letter to Adolf Löwe dated January 27. Harvard University Archives

  • Parsons T (1959) A short account of my intellectual development. Alpha Kappa Deltan 29(1):3–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Parsons T (1968) The structure of social action, vol 2. [1937]. The Free Press, New York

  • Parsons T (1970) On building social systems theory. Daedalus 99:826–881

    Google Scholar 

  • Parsons T (2006) A seminar with Talcott Parsons at Brown University. My life and work. Saturday, March 10, 1973. A J Econ Sociol 65(1):1–57

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parsons T, Smelser N (1956) Economy and society: a study in the integration of economic and social theory. The Free Press, New York

  • Schumpeter J (1991) The economics and sociology of capitalism. In: Swedberg R (ed). Princeton University Press, Princeton

  • Schumpeter JA (1954) History of economic analysis. Allen & Unwin, London

  • Schumpeter JA (1991a) The Crisis of the Tax State. In: Swedberg R (ed) The economics and sociology of capitalism, [1918]. Princeton University Press, Princeton, pp 99–140

    Google Scholar 

  • Schumpeter JA (1991b) The sociology of imperialisms. In: Swedberg R (ed) The economics and sociology of capitalism, [1919]. Princeton University Press, Princeton, pp 141–219

    Google Scholar 

  • Schumpeter JA (1991c) Social classes in an ethnically homogenous environment. In: Swedberg R (ed) The economics and sociology of capitalism, [1927] . Princeton University Press, Princeton, pp 230–283

    Google Scholar 

  • Schumpeter JA (1994) Capitalism, socialism and democracy, [1942]. Routledge, London

  • Schumpeter J, Hedtke U, Swedberg R (2000) Briefe/Letters. Tübingen, J.C.B. Mohr.

  • Swedberg R (1991b) Schumpeter – a biography. Princeton, Princeton University Press

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853-7801, USA

    Richard Swedberg

Authors
  1. Richard Swedberg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Richard Swedberg.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Swedberg, R. Schumpeter and Talcott Parsons. J Evol Econ 25, 215–222 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00191-014-0368-2

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00191-014-0368-2

Parsons, Talcott

JEL Classification

Search

Navigation