Rudolf Goldscheid (1870-1931) and the Economy of Human Beings

The article begins firstly with a short biography of Rudolf Goldscheid both as a fiction writer and as a private scholar mainly in the field of sociology. Secondly, his most important scientific conception, the Economy of Human Beings, and especially its consequences for population policy are discussed. Thirdly, the reception of Goldscheid's ideas by his contemporaries in Austria and Germany is outlined. It is shown that Goldscheid developed modern, stimulating and alternative ideas which were largely ignored by the established scientific community considering their importance. One reason for this might be that Goldscheid never worked out his conceptions in detail.