Perspectives on Ayn Rand's Contributions to Economic and Business Thought

This superb collection surveys the profound impact of Ayn Rand’s philosophy on economic and business thought. Its contributors provide wonderfully diverse and valuable perspectives on Rand’s intellectual influence. The exceptional quality of the essays are a further illustration of the growing body of scholarly literature on Rand. I recommend this important anthology for all those who are interested in Rand’s continuing appeal and enduring legacy.

-- Chris Matthew Sciabarra, New York University

Ed Younkins brings together diverse voices to demonstrate the enduring importance of Ayn Rand to economic and business education. Ayn Rand's Contributions to Economic and Business Thought is an indispensable resource for teachers and students who wish to add a literary element to courses that too often lack creativity and imagination.

-- Allen Mendenhall, Faulkner University Thomas Goode Jones School of Law

“In March 1990, I was the chief executive of a real-estate development operation in Brazil with 2,500 employees in the weekly payroll when the government froze all bank deposits in the country for three years, similar to the railroad bonds moratorium in Atlas Shrugged. Luckily, I had read the book and I knew what to do. That is a good example of Ayn Rand giving context for her readers to understand business and economics and to strive. This must-read book goes a step further, giving new insights on how to apply Rand’s ideas to make sense of business and economics.”

-- Leonidas Zelmanovitz, Liberty Fund Senior Fellow

If you want an expert on Ayn Rand's ideas on economics and business, then Ed Younkins is your man. He is the maven in this field. He has done more excellent work on this topic than perhaps any other scholar on the planet.

-- Walter E. Block, Loyola University New Orleans

Ayn Rand has often been associated with economic and business concepts such as "capitalism," "laissez-faire," and "entrepreneur." Despite this close association with economic and business concepts, Rand's insights into economic and business activities have barely been documented. With this volume of essays, we finally have a sustained and serious accounting of Rand's reflections on the nature of commerce. This volume is not only a welcome addition to Rand scholarship, but a useful tool for those interested in the workings and possibilities of a commercial order.

-- Douglas Den Uyl, vice president of educational programs, Liberty Fund Inc.
In the past decade, we have lived in the world of Atlas Shrugged predicted. The misunderstanding of functions of business, and the naive confidence in the effectiveness of collectivism, seem all too familiar to students of Rand. Yet Rand's own views are often caricatured and distorted by both the media and academics. This book is a marvelous corrective to that slander, and an illustration of how Rand's diagnoses of social problems are more relevant than ever before. The book presents an all-star cast of commentators and scholars, with experience in business, economics, and philosophy. This the right book, at the right time. -- Michael C. Munger, Director of PPE Program, Duke University

Too rarely do the intellectual disciplines speak to each other, but now, Ed Younkins has done a great job of bridging that gap. He has compiled an outstanding line-up of writers and essays, showing that, how, and why Ayn Rand's writings, especially Atlas Shrugged, are pregnant with a diverse range of economic insights--and how her works can be productively deployed in the teaching of economics. Younkins' book provides an excellent integration of literature and economics.

-- Andrew Bernstein, author of The Capitalist Manifesto: The Historic, Economic and Philosophic Case for Laissez-Faire

In Ayn Rand's Contributions to Economic and Business Thought, Edward Younkins provides us with one stop shopping for economics and business in Rand’s works. This compilation of previously published articles will be a valuable resource for anyone interested in the moral foundations of capitalism. One common theme among the articles is that business improves our world and leads to human flourishing by creating win-win relationships, a lesson that is especially relevant for today, and one that is unfortunately missing from most business and economics programs.

-- Michelle Albert Vachris, Virginia Wesleyan University

Younkins has done it again. What he did in 2007 by assembling a group of essays on Atlas Shrugged, he has done now in putting together a collection of articles on the topics of economics (first nine chapters) and business (last seven chapters). Not only do the essays cover all essentials of these two disciplines, but they do it with a depth that one has come to associate with the finest of Objectivist scholars. If you are interested in these two subjects , then this is the anthology that must be in your possession. I cannot recommend this book too highly. Bravo Ed Younkins et al.

-- Fred Seddon, author of Ayn Rand, Objectivists, and the History of Philosophy

“This book discusses the novels and philosophy of Ayn Rand. The chapters on Rand’s novels demonstrate why Rand continues to inspire new generations of business and economics students with her exalted view of business and an unparalleled ability to dramatize the interconnections between economics and every other aspect of human life. The chapters on Rand’s philosophy demonstrate why Rand cannot be dismissed as a mere popularizer of Austrian economics and is, in fact, a significant and serious thinker in her own right. This book will be of particular interest to instructors in business ethics and the philosophy of economics.”

-- Robert White, Dean of Faculty, American University in Bulgaria

Reading the introduction to Perspectives on Ayn Rand's Contributions to Economic and Business Thought makes one want to go back to the bookshelf and start rereading her classic works. Each of the chapters is insightful and written in a way that can be appreciated by both the layman and the expert. It will make an excellent required or recommended reading for any number of classes, including introductory economics, public choice, philosophy, business ethics, and marketing. Whether one is a student, professor, or general reader, this book will be a fun and informative read. I recommend it whole heartedly.

-- Gary Wolfram, Ph.D., William Simon Professor of Economics and Public Policy, Hillsdale College

“Writers are always advised, ‘Show, don’t tell.’ Smith, Mises, and many textbooks tell us what we need to know about economics. More so than almost any other novelist, Ayn Rand shows us economics in action – entrepreneurship, the difficulty of building an enterprise, the burden of regulation, rent-seeking and cronyism, inflation, and of course ethical challenges in commercial life. This book helpfully examines why and how Rand’s works can be useful in teaching economics.”

-- David Boaz, Executive Vice President, Cato Institute

The essays collected for this volume are well-crafted, and together they clearly demonstrate the depth and breadth of Ayn Rand’s thinking on economics and business. There are essays that consider how Rand’s thought may be used to teach the basic principles of economic reasoning, to analyze the character of money, to explore the nature of entrepreneurship, and to differentiate between the activities of business in a free market from those in what is today called crony capitalism. This volume not only would be useful in a business ethics course, but also in a course that sought to understand the differences between a culture that extols liberty and personal responsibility from one that ignores both.

-- Douglas B. Rasmussen, St. Johns University

Ayn Rand’s novels frequently showcase ideas about economics and the differences between ethical and unethical business management. This new volume edited by Edward Younkins collects a variety of scholarly essays on these themes and their portrayal. Younkins has once again done a thorough job making sure that the best writing is brought to bear on the widest variety of issues. This collection will greatly enhance students’ understanding both of business ethics and of the role of government in the economy.

-- Aeon J. Skoble, Bridgewater State Col