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All Outputs (22)

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.

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.

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.

The Social Ontology of Fear and Neoliberalism (2014)
Journal Article
Wrenn, M. V. (2014). The Social Ontology of Fear and Neoliberalism. Review of Social Economy, 72(3), 337-353. https://doi.org/10.1080/00346764.2014.927726

Fear is a primal instinct; it is a survival mechanism the evolution of which allowed the early humans, indeed all species to adapt, evolve, and survive. When humans moved into settled communities with more advanced means of production, the nature of... Read More about The Social Ontology of Fear and Neoliberalism.

Identity, identity politics, and neoliberalism (2014)
Journal Article
Wrenn, M. (2014). Identity, identity politics, and neoliberalism. Panoeconomicus, 61(4), 503-515. https://doi.org/10.2298/PAN1404503W

With the intensification of neoliberalism, it is useful to examine how some individuals might cope with the irrationality of the system. Neoliberalism cloaks the execution of the corporate agenda behind rhetorical manipulation that advocates for limi... Read More about Identity, identity politics, and neoliberalism.

Agency, identity, and the great crisis: A veblenian perspective (2012)
Journal Article
Wrenn, M. (2012). Agency, identity, and the great crisis: A veblenian perspective. Journal of Economic Issues, 46(2), 403-410. https://doi.org/10.2753/JEI0021-3624460215

Within neoliberalism, an individual's agency and identity are fundamentally different than at any other stage in human development. The argument set forth is that within neoliberalism, agency and identity are, respectively, falsified and fluid, which... Read More about Agency, identity, and the great crisis: A veblenian perspective.