General Economic History

Max Weber's "General Economic History" offers an institutional theory of capitalism's emergence in the West, diverging from his earlier focus on religion. Compiled from lecture notes shortly after his death, the work emphasizes the role of the state and calculable law in enabling economic actors to predict outcomes for profit. Rediscovered in the 1980s, it influenced sociologists and economists alike, including Frank Knight, who translated it into English. This edition is a faithful reprint of the original 1927 publication.