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All Outputs (26)

Overcoming optimism (and moving toward hope) (2023)
Journal Article
Wrenn, M. V. (2023). Overcoming optimism (and moving toward hope). Journal of Economic Issues, 57(2), 376-388. https://doi.org/10.1080/00213624.2023.2188869

U.S. optimism, the belief in anyone’s ability to overcome any obstacle, any oppression, is part of the country’s social DNA. U.S.-Americans are heavily socialized and profoundly, culturally attached to ideas of reinvention and redemption, of hard wor... Read More about Overcoming optimism (and moving toward hope).

Corporate mindfulness culture and neoliberalism (2022)
Journal Article
Wrenn, M. V. (2022). Corporate mindfulness culture and neoliberalism. Review of Radical Political Economics, 54(2), 153-170. https://doi.org/10.1177/04866134211063521

Corporate mindfulness is the favorite labor management technique of the neoliberal period. The formalized packaging of corporate mindfulness began in the late 1970s but was built on a long tradition of attempts to hack the minds of workers in the Uni... Read More about Corporate mindfulness culture and neoliberalism.

Institutional Economics and Mythopoetics (2021)
Book Chapter
Wrenn, M. (2021). Institutional Economics and Mythopoetics. In C. Whalen (Ed.), Institutional economics: Perspectives and methods in search of a better world. Routledge

Boss-babes and predatory optimism: Neoliberalism, gender, and multi-level marketing (2021)
Journal Article
Wrenn, M., & Waller, W. (2021). Boss-babes and predatory optimism: Neoliberalism, gender, and multi-level marketing. Journal of Economic Issues, 55(2), 423-431. https://doi.org/10.1080/00213624.2021.1908805

Abstract: Capitalism always depends on relentless sales efforts to battle against its endemic tendency toward a lack of effective demand. Multi-level marketing schemes (MLMs), which offer individuals the “opportunity” to earn income by becoming indep... Read More about Boss-babes and predatory optimism: Neoliberalism, gender, and multi-level marketing.

Feminist institutionalism and neoliberalism (2021)
Journal Article
Waller, W., & Wrenn, M. (2021). Feminist institutionalism and neoliberalism. Feminist Economics, 27(3), 51-76. https://doi.org/10.1080/13545701.2021.1883194

We argue Neoliberalism is an ideology that requires that the public/private split in human affairs exists and is perceived as normal and natural. Indeed, neoliberalism as an ideology cannot be sustained without public acceptance of the reality of the... Read More about Feminist institutionalism and neoliberalism.

Selling salvation, selling success: Neoliberalism and the US Prosperity Gospel (2020)
Journal Article
Wrenn, M. V. (2021). Selling salvation, selling success: Neoliberalism and the US Prosperity Gospel. Cambridge Journal of Economics, 45(2), 295-311. https://doi.org/10.1093/cje/beaa048

Neoliberalism relies on optimism. Without faith in meritocracy-unwavering belief that rewards will eventually and justly come to those who work hard enough-support for the capitalist system and belief in neoliberalism would unravel. How that optimism... Read More about Selling salvation, selling success: Neoliberalism and the US Prosperity Gospel.

From mad to mindful: Corporate control through corporate spirituality (2020)
Journal Article
Wrenn, M. V. (2020). From mad to mindful: Corporate control through corporate spirituality. Journal of Economic Issues, 54(2), 503-509. https://doi.org/10.1080/00213624.2020.1756660

Abstract: Capitalism has always and will always depend on a compliant workforce. Maintaining the delicate balance between a worker who is just “not-unhappy” enough or desperate enough to continue working while also cutting costs to the bone presents... Read More about From mad to mindful: Corporate control through corporate spirituality.

Veblen, Veblenian social practices, and prosperity theology (2020)
Journal Article
Wrenn, M. (2020). Veblen, Veblenian social practices, and prosperity theology. Journal of Economic Issues, 54(1), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1080/00213624.2020.1720560

Abstract: At the turn of the twentieth century (1910), Veblen published an essay which explored the relationship between Christianity and capitalism by focusing on the interaction between the two institutions as they evolved. Veblen’s analysis begins... Read More about Veblen, Veblenian social practices, and prosperity theology.

On Veblenian waste and Polanyian protective responses: Evidence from the US (2020)
Journal Article
Wrenn, M. V. (2020). On Veblenian waste and Polanyian protective responses: Evidence from the US. Panoeconomicus, 67(4), 449-464. https://doi.org/10.2298/PAN170925002W

As capitalism unfolds, continual technological advance in combination with the relentless accumulation imperative serves to amplify material progress. The institutionalization of the market fundamentally changes the structure of society and the inst... Read More about On Veblenian waste and Polanyian protective responses: Evidence from the US.

Consecrating capitalism: The US prosperity gospel and neoliberalism (2019)
Journal Article
Wrenn, M. V. (2019). Consecrating capitalism: The US prosperity gospel and neoliberalism. Journal of Economic Issues, 53(2), 425-432. https://doi.org/10.1080/00213624.2019.1594528

Neoliberalism relies on optimism. Without faith in meritocracy—unwavering belief that rewards will eventually and justly come to those who work hard enough—support for the capitalist system and belief in neoliberalism would unravel. How that optimism... Read More about Consecrating capitalism: The US prosperity gospel and neoliberalism.

The pathology of care (2018)
Journal Article
Wrenn, M., & Waller, W. (2018). The pathology of care. Œconomia, 8(2), 157-185

This research explores two conflicting ethical systems. Neoliberalism’s foundations support an overarching ethic of individual autonomy and individual responsibility. Institutionalism contrasts this conception with a view of human beings as relatio... Read More about The pathology of care.

Absorpcja nadwyżki i marnotrawstwo w neoliberalnym kapitalizmie monopolistycznym (2018)
Book Chapter
Wrenn, M. (2018). Absorpcja nadwyżki i marnotrawstwo w neoliberalnym kapitalizmie monopolistycznym. In G. Konat, & P. Wielgosz (Eds.), Realny kapitalizm: Wokół teorii kapitału monopolistycznego (147-174). Instytut Wydawniczy Książka i Prasa

W rozwiniętym kapitalizmie monopolistycznym centralnym problemem nie jest to, że rzadkie zasoby zderzają się z wrodzonymi, niezaspokojonymi potrzebami, lecz to, że obfitość produkcji zderza się z nasyconym rynkiem konsumpcyjnym i inwestycyjnym. Aby w... Read More about Absorpcja nadwyżki i marnotrawstwo w neoliberalnym kapitalizmie monopolistycznym.

Heterodox economics and theories of interactive agency (2017)
Book Chapter
Wrenn, M. (2017). Heterodox economics and theories of interactive agency. In T. Jo, L. Chester, & C. D’Ippoliti (Eds.), The Routledge Handbook of Heterodox Economics. Routledge

Agency is power—the power to act and the power to choose, the power to imagine, and the power to understand, engage, and manipulate the surrounding biological and social environment. Mainstream economics defines agency in terms of methodological indi... Read More about Heterodox economics and theories of interactive agency.

Care and the Neoliberal Individual (2017)
Journal Article
Wrenn, M. V., & Waller, W. (2017). Care and the Neoliberal Individual. Journal of Economic Issues, 51(2), 495-502. https://doi.org/10.1080/00213624.2017.1321438

© 2017, Journal of Economic Issues / Association for Evolutionary Economics. Abstract: This article explores two conflicting ethical systems: neoliberalism and institutionalism. Neoliberalism’s foundations support an overarching ethic of individual a... Read More about Care and the Neoliberal Individual.

Neoliberalism, Polanyi’s Protective Response, and Veblenian Waste (2016)
Journal Article
Wrenn, M. V. (2016). Neoliberalism, Polanyi’s Protective Response, and Veblenian Waste. Journal of Economic Issues, 50(2), 594-602. https://doi.org/10.1080/00213624.2016.1179069

© 2016, Journal of Economic Issues / Association for Evolutionary Economics. Abstract: As capitalism unfolds, continual technological advance — in combination with the relentless accumulation imperative — serves to amplify material progress. The expa... Read More about Neoliberalism, Polanyi’s Protective Response, and Veblenian Waste.

Immanent Critique, Enabling Myths, and the Neoliberal Narrative (2015)
Journal Article
Wrenn, M. V. (2016). Immanent Critique, Enabling Myths, and the Neoliberal Narrative. Review of Radical Political Economics, 48(3), 452-466. https://doi.org/10.1177/0486613415605074

© 2015, © 2015 Union for Radical Political Economics. This research aims to untangle and critically assess the core enabling myths of neoliberalism. The first step is to outline in brief the method of immanent critique, how it works, as well as its a... Read More about Immanent Critique, Enabling Myths, and the Neoliberal Narrative.

Envy in neoliberalism: Revisiting Veblen's emulation and invidious distinction (2015)
Journal Article
Wrenn, M. V. (2015). Envy in neoliberalism: Revisiting Veblen's emulation and invidious distinction. Journal of Economic Issues, 49(2), 503-510. https://doi.org/10.1080/00213624.2015.1042796

© 2015, Journal of Economic Issues / Association for Evolutionary Economics. Cautionary tales admonishing against the evils of envy crowd religion and folklore across cultures. Pre-capitalist societies attempted to suppress envy, and familial and com... Read More about Envy in neoliberalism: Revisiting Veblen's emulation and invidious distinction.

Unveiling and deconstructing the enabling myths of neoliberalism through immanent critique (2014)
Journal Article
Wrenn, M. (2014). Unveiling and deconstructing the enabling myths of neoliberalism through immanent critique. Journal of Economic Issues, 48(2), 477-484. https://doi.org/10.2753/JEI0021-3624480222

In the deconstruction of the neoliberal narrative through immanent critique, we find that it is woven from enabling myths that not only support the neoliberal project, but are essential for its continued survival. This research aims to untangle and c... Read More about Unveiling and deconstructing the enabling myths of neoliberalism through immanent critique.