Purpose – This paper seeks to examine how productive entrepreneurial activities, such as innovation, influence unproductive entrepreneurial activities, such as regulatory rent seeking. Design/methodology/approach – To investigate the argument the authors consider Bavaria's brewing industry...

Abstract This paper investigates the economics of infamous pirate practices. Two closely related economic theories--the theory of signaling and the theory of reputation building--explain these practices. First, I examine the pirate flag, "Jolly Roger," which pirates used to signal their identity...

Frontmatter -- Contents -- List of Illustrations -- Preface and Acknowledgments -- 1. The Invisible Hook -- 2. Vote for Blackbeard: The Economics of Pirate Democracy -- 3. An-arrgh-chy: The Economics of the Pirate Code -- 4. Skull & Bones: The Economics of the Jolly Roger -- 5. Walk the Plank:...