Du Bois and Veblen's concepts of relative position: Common Ground or Stratification Economics and Institutionalist Economics

John Davis ()
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John Davis: Department of Economics Marquette University

No 2026-01, Working Papers and Research from Marquette University, Center for Global and Economic Studies and Department of Economics

Abstract: W. E. B. Du Bois and Thorstein Veblen employed the concept of relative position. Du Bois' thinking reflects how for Stratification economics people's relative positions explain racial discrimination and segregation. Veblen reflects how for Institutionalist economics people's relative positions explain the role institutions have in the evolution of the economy. Racism in the US marginalized Du Bois' contributions, leaving a divide between his and Veblen's thinking and also between Stratification economics and Institutionalist economics. This has limited the perceived importance of the concept of relative position in economics, leaving it with the 'position-less' asocial individualism of Neoclassical-mainstream economics. This paper compares Du Bois and Veblen's conceptions of the concept of relative position and discusses the potential common ground it creates for Stratification economics and Institutionalist economics.

Keywords: relative position; Du Bois; Veblen; racism; Stratification economics; Institutionalist economics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: B15 B31 B41 Z13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026-01
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