Lendo um livro do Hirschman, deparei-me com uma citação do Smith na Teoria dos Sentimentos Morais que me havia passado desapercebida:
"...it is chiefly form (the) regard to the sentiments of mankind that we pursue riches and avoid poverty. For to what purpose is all the toil and bustle of this world? What is the end of avarice and ambition, of the pursuit of wealth, of power and preeminence? ...FROM WHENCE...ARISES THE EMULATION WHICH RUNS THROUGH ALL THE DIFFERENT RANKS OF MEN AND WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES WHICH WE PROPOSE BY THAT GREAT PURPOSE OF HUMAN LIFE WHICH WE CALL BETTERING OUR CONDITION? To be observed, to be attended to, to be taken notice of with sympathy, complacency, and appreciation, are all the advantages which we can propose to derive from it. It is the vanity, not the ease or the pleasure, which interests us."
Não saberia compatibilizar isso com uma teoria do valor-trabalho (ou só trabalho). Isso sem falar na proximidade com o comportamento emulativo e com o consumo conspícuo que Veblen tanto valorizou. O que mais podemos tirar dali?
Huáscar