by Böhm Bawerk
[Google Digitalization Notice and Legal Guidelines]: Introductory text from Google regarding the digitalization of public domain books, outlining usage guidelines, the importance of maintaining brand elements, and legal responsibilities of the user. [Title Page and Preface: The Problem of Intangible Goods]: Title page and preface of Böhm-Bawerk's work. The author introduces the central question: the economic nature of 'rights' and 'relations' as intangible goods, aiming to clarify the fundamental theory of goods. [Introduction: Critique of Existing Theories on Intangible Goods]: Böhm-Bawerk critiques the prevailing economic views on intangible goods. He specifically addresses Mac Leod's theory that credit creates new wealth by treating debts as independent goods, arguing that this leads to double counting and logical errors in the theory of goods. [Chapter I: The Concept and Criteria of Economic Goods]: An analysis of the fundamental definition of a 'good' in economics. Building on Carl Menger, the author outlines five necessary conditions for an object to be considered a good, emphasizing that goodness is a relationship between an object and a subject's needs and power of disposal. [Chapter II: The Economic Structure of Rights]: Böhm-Bawerk investigates the technical-economic structure of rights. He argues that a right is not a good in itself, but rather a legally secured appendix to the physical power of disposal over goods, facilitated by the state's power. [Chapter III: The Concept of Useful Services (Nutzleistungen)]: The author introduces the concept of 'Nutzleistungen' (useful services/performances) as the primary units of economic value. He argues that we do not desire goods for themselves, but for the specific natural forces and services they provide. Rights to use goods are analyzed as rights to these specific services. [Chapter IV: Wealth Computation and Future Goods]: This chapter explores how future goods and claims (debts) are integrated into individual wealth. Böhm-Bawerk explains that 'rights' often serve as a linguistic and mental shorthand in wealth computation for the future goods they represent, rather than being independent goods themselves. [Chapter V: Forms of Securing Future Utility]: Böhm-Bawerk categorizes the ways future utility is secured, including durable goods, goods of higher order (capital), and personal obligations. He touches upon the problem of capital productivity and interest, suggesting that capital value is an anticipation of the value of future consumption goods. [Five Nuances of Future Goods Availability]: Böhm-Bawerk presents five distinct legal and physical scenarios for the future availability of a good (a quintal of hay) to demonstrate that while the legal 'computation form' varies—ranging from direct ownership to debt claims—the underlying economic substance remains the same future good. [Rights as Linguistic Substitutes in Economic Computation]: The author argues that rights are merely linguistic substitutes or 'remplaçants' for the actual goods they represent in wealth accounting. By comparing ownership of a meadow with a servitude right, he demonstrates that the right itself is not a separate economic substance but a way of representing the future utility of the physical object. [The Misunderstanding of 'Res Incorporales' in Jurisprudence and Economics]: Böhm-Bawerk critiques the classification of rights as independent 'immaterial goods' (res incorporales). He describes rights as 'legal shadows' cast by real goods; the more complex or distant the underlying good (such as in patents or copyrights), the more likely theorists are to mistake the shadow for a self-standing entity. He references Carl Menger's hesitation regarding the nature of monopolies and firm names. [Analysis of Relationships (Verhältnisse) as Economic Goods]: The author extends his critique to 'relationships' (Verhältnisse), arguing they cannot be independent goods because they lack the inherent power to produce utility. He posits that relationships are merely properties or linguistic abstractions of the underlying things or persons that actually provide the utility. [The Economic Nature of 'Customer Base' (Kundschaft)]: A detailed analysis of 'customer base' (Kundschaft) as an economic concept. Böhm-Bawerk argues that while it is treated as a wealth object in business sales, it is actually a collective term for a complex array of future exchange gains, physical assets, and personal services rather than a distinct immaterial good. [Legal Monopolies, Copyrights, and the Theory of Omissions]: The author examines legally enforced monopolies like copyrights and patents, reducing them to a series of physical goods and services protected by the state. He also debates Carl Menger's view on 'useful omissions,' arguing that an omission (like a doctor not practicing) is not a positive good but merely the absence of a disturbance, which is a prerequisite for the utility of existing goods. [The State and Social Relationships as Collective Titles]: Böhm-Bawerk analyzes the 'State' and social relations (family, friendship) as economic goods. He concludes they are not independent goods but collective titles for a multitude of specific services provided by individuals (officials, teachers) or the utility of physical infrastructure (roads, buildings). [Conclusion: The Theoretical Significance of Purifying Economic Categories]: The author summarizes his findings, asserting that rights and relationships are not goods but forms of linking goods to individuals. He explains the importance of this distinction for credit theory—critiquing Law and Macleod for treating debt claims as new goods—and for understanding capital and interest, which he identifies as the foundation for his future work on the 'social question.' [Table of Contents and Errata]: The systematic table of contents for the work 'Rechte und Verhältnisse' and a brief list of errata.
Introductory text from Google regarding the digitalization of public domain books, outlining usage guidelines, the importance of maintaining brand elements, and legal responsibilities of the user.
Read full textTitle page and preface of Böhm-Bawerk's work. The author introduces the central question: the economic nature of 'rights' and 'relations' as intangible goods, aiming to clarify the fundamental theory of goods.
Read full textBöhm-Bawerk critiques the prevailing economic views on intangible goods. He specifically addresses Mac Leod's theory that credit creates new wealth by treating debts as independent goods, arguing that this leads to double counting and logical errors in the theory of goods.
Read full textAn analysis of the fundamental definition of a 'good' in economics. Building on Carl Menger, the author outlines five necessary conditions for an object to be considered a good, emphasizing that goodness is a relationship between an object and a subject's needs and power of disposal.
Read full textBöhm-Bawerk investigates the technical-economic structure of rights. He argues that a right is not a good in itself, but rather a legally secured appendix to the physical power of disposal over goods, facilitated by the state's power.
Read full textThe author introduces the concept of 'Nutzleistungen' (useful services/performances) as the primary units of economic value. He argues that we do not desire goods for themselves, but for the specific natural forces and services they provide. Rights to use goods are analyzed as rights to these specific services.
Read full textThis chapter explores how future goods and claims (debts) are integrated into individual wealth. Böhm-Bawerk explains that 'rights' often serve as a linguistic and mental shorthand in wealth computation for the future goods they represent, rather than being independent goods themselves.
Read full textBöhm-Bawerk categorizes the ways future utility is secured, including durable goods, goods of higher order (capital), and personal obligations. He touches upon the problem of capital productivity and interest, suggesting that capital value is an anticipation of the value of future consumption goods.
Read full textBöhm-Bawerk presents five distinct legal and physical scenarios for the future availability of a good (a quintal of hay) to demonstrate that while the legal 'computation form' varies—ranging from direct ownership to debt claims—the underlying economic substance remains the same future good.
Read full textThe author argues that rights are merely linguistic substitutes or 'remplaçants' for the actual goods they represent in wealth accounting. By comparing ownership of a meadow with a servitude right, he demonstrates that the right itself is not a separate economic substance but a way of representing the future utility of the physical object.
Read full textBöhm-Bawerk critiques the classification of rights as independent 'immaterial goods' (res incorporales). He describes rights as 'legal shadows' cast by real goods; the more complex or distant the underlying good (such as in patents or copyrights), the more likely theorists are to mistake the shadow for a self-standing entity. He references Carl Menger's hesitation regarding the nature of monopolies and firm names.
Read full textThe author extends his critique to 'relationships' (Verhältnisse), arguing they cannot be independent goods because they lack the inherent power to produce utility. He posits that relationships are merely properties or linguistic abstractions of the underlying things or persons that actually provide the utility.
Read full textA detailed analysis of 'customer base' (Kundschaft) as an economic concept. Böhm-Bawerk argues that while it is treated as a wealth object in business sales, it is actually a collective term for a complex array of future exchange gains, physical assets, and personal services rather than a distinct immaterial good.
Read full textThe author examines legally enforced monopolies like copyrights and patents, reducing them to a series of physical goods and services protected by the state. He also debates Carl Menger's view on 'useful omissions,' arguing that an omission (like a doctor not practicing) is not a positive good but merely the absence of a disturbance, which is a prerequisite for the utility of existing goods.
Read full textBöhm-Bawerk analyzes the 'State' and social relations (family, friendship) as economic goods. He concludes they are not independent goods but collective titles for a multitude of specific services provided by individuals (officials, teachers) or the utility of physical infrastructure (roads, buildings).
Read full textThe author summarizes his findings, asserting that rights and relationships are not goods but forms of linking goods to individuals. He explains the importance of this distinction for credit theory—critiquing Law and Macleod for treating debt claims as new goods—and for understanding capital and interest, which he identifies as the foundation for his future work on the 'social question.'
Read full textThe systematic table of contents for the work 'Rechte und Verhältnisse' and a brief list of errata.
Read full text