The Invisible Hook

The Invisible Hook: The Hidden Economics of Pirates
Cover, Published 2011
AuthorPeter T. Leeson
LanguageEnglish
SubjectEconomics of piracy
GenreEconomics
PublisherPrinceton University Press
Publication date
2009
Publication placeUnited States
ISBN0-691-13747-1
OCLC276340750

The Invisible Hook: The Hidden Economics of Pirates is a non-fiction book detailing the similarities between economics and piracy. Author Peter T. Leeson (born July 29, 1979), shows in this book how pirates instigated democratic practices for their mutual profit, ideas which preceded the methods of society in the 16th century.[1][2]

Leeson is an economics professor who has been credited with several respected positions throughout his career. Growing up with a strong admiration for pirates, he was inspired by piracy and how it intertwined with economics. The Invisible Hook explores several economic phenomena, including signaling and branding. The book also explores other themes including the implementation of democracy and constitutions, as well as tolerance and the use of conscription.

The book has been academically criticised, with many scholars praising Leeson's work for the books’ interesting insights and well thought-out ideas. The book also has opposing evaluations which offer insight from different points of view.[3][4][5]

  1. ^ Miller, Roger K. "Pirate profit probe a jolly good read". The Tampa Tribune. Archived from the original on February 3, 2013. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  2. ^ Hunt, Ken (November 28, 2008). "The Dread Pirate Jobs". Report on Business. The Globe and Mail. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  3. ^ Robertson, Paul L. (March 2012). "The Invisible Hook: The Hidden Economics of Pirates – By Peter T. Leeson: Book reviews". Australian Economic History Review. 52 (1): 96–97. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8446.2010.00316.x.
  4. ^ Lundblad, Stefan (2012). "The invisible hook. The hidden economics of pirates". Scandinavian Economic History Review. 60 (2): 218–220. doi:10.1080/17546559.2012.693264. ISSN 0358-5522. S2CID 156623984.
  5. ^ Benson, Bruce L. (2010). "Review of The invisible hook: the hidden economics of pirates". Public Choice. 145 (3/4): 589–592. doi:10.1007/s11127-010-9694-6. ISSN 0048-5829. JSTOR 40927138. S2CID 153921044.