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Erik Baker, "Make Your Own Job: How the Entrepreneurial Work Ethic Exhausted America" (Harvard UP, 2025)

New Books in Economics

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Entrepreneurialism and American Capitalism

This chapter explores the rise of 1960s entrepreneurs who combined innovation with nostalgia for pre-industrial values, focusing on corporate strategies of companies like McDonald's and Walmart. It analyzes the intertwining of multi-level marketing practices, particularly through Amway, with political ideologies and social issues, showcasing how entrepreneurialism has influenced social policy amid economic crises. The discussion also connects historical and contemporary entrepreneurial trends, highlighting their impact on work and economic anxiety across different political eras.

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