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Franklin, Benjamin (1706–1790)

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The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics
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Abstract

One of the founding fathers of the United States, Franklin is remembered as ‘the wisest American’ for his many accomplishments as statesman, scientist and writer. As a writer he extolled the virtues of industry and thrift in many memorable phrases, some of which have become household maxims. They lent support to Max Weber’s thesis of the Protestant origin of capitalism and were cited by him.

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References

  • Carey, L.J. 1928. Franklin’s economic views. New York: Doubleday.

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  • Dorfman, J. 1946. The economic mind in American civilization 1606–1865, vol. 1. New York: Viking.

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  • Spiegel, H.W. 1960. The rise of American economic thought. Philadelphia: Chilton.

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Spiegel, H.W. (2018). Franklin, Benjamin (1706–1790). In: The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-95189-5_534

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