内容简介：
Individualism is a central tenet of economic theory and of ideological conservativism. This book examines the historical sources of this philosophy since its enunciation by Adam Smith in 1776. The examination shows that individualism can provide solutions only to a limited number of determinate problems and fails as a policy matrix for governmental action because it ignores the institutional framework that supports all economic activity. Joining Macrotheory to Institutionalism, a new combined analysis of how social institutions influence policy, would stress the detemining role of government and political power in economic affairs, and the close affinity of power to wealth.