The subject of this book is production, which is an important and extensive field in economic science. In fact, production, distribution and consump tion were long considered the three federated kingdoms which together formed the great empire of the economy. According to other slightly dif ferent traditions, production also held pride of place, specifically as a basic link in the long chain of social reproduction. Today, whatever the theoreti cal approach, production is a fundamental requirement for human survival. This was not, however, always the case. For much of the history of man kind...

The subject of this book is production, which is an important and extensive field in economic science. In fact, production, distribution and consump tion were long considered the three federated kingdoms which together formed the great empire of the economy. According to other slightly dif ferent traditions, production also held pride of place, specifically as a basic link in the long chain of social reproduction. Today, whatever the theoreti cal approach, production is a fundamental requirement for human survival. This was not, however, always the case. For much of the history of man kind...