Thorstein Veblen's "Hidden Utility"

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Tezin Türü: Yüksek Lisans

Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Fakültesi, İktisat Bölümü, Türkiye

Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2013

Öğrenci: ASLI KURŞUNCU

Danışman: ÇINLA AKDERE

Özet:

Economic studies and empirical experiments based on psychological and sociological facts have promoted new approaches particularly in the last 20 years. Although developments and studies on human behavior are high on the rise, systems that can specifically explain human behavior have not been fully developed yet. In this manner, the main aim of this thesis is to define and analyze the secondary utility presented by Veblen in The Theory of Leisure Class (1899) and take it as the genesis of a new type of utility: “hidden utility”. Thesis will lean on the relationship between the secondary utility and the heuristics and psychological mechanisms that are used for maximizing the “hidden utility”. The “Hidden utility” will combine Veblen’s concepts, pecuniary emulation and conspicuous consumption with heuristics and psychological mechanisms utilized for decision making .