Consumption and taxation of conspicuous goods in economics: a debate about the Classical School, the Original Institutionalism and John Maynard Keynes

Abstract

This paper aims to discuss the theoretical contributions about consumption and taxation of conspicuous goods in the economics from the late XVII century until the first half of the XX century. Particularly, it analyses authors from the Classical School (Adam Smith, David Ricardo, John Rae and John Stuart Mill), the Original Institutionalism (Thorstein Veblen e Wesley C. Mitchell) as well as John Maynard Keynes approach. Finally, it is presented some remarks about the decrease of the academic interest on the theme, between 1900 and 1950.