Leisure Class

Abstract

“Leisure class” is a sociological construct invented by Thorstein Veblen at the end of the nineteenth century. As twentieth‐century sociology increasingly turned its attention toward leisure activities and recreation it made very little direct use of Veblen's ideas. Nevertheless, Veblen's book and concepts maintain a strong grip on the popular imagination. With the growth of tourism and the democratization of leisure that is accelerating into the twenty‐first century there are potential openings for new applications of Veblen's ideas.