Arthur Salz

Arthur Salz (; 31 December 1881 – 10 August 1963) was a German professor of sociology and economics who wrote on mercantilism, imperialism, and power. He taught at Heidelberg University before being forced to flee Germany because of his Jewish faith. He was familiar with the Stefan George circle and married Sophie Kantorowiz, the sister of historian Ernst Kantorowicz.

Life Salz was born on 31 December 1881 in Staab, Bohemia, to Heinrich Salz and Rosa (née Popper). After completing gymnasium in Plzeň, Salz studied economics at the Friedrich Wilhelm University of Berlin, where he attended the lectures of Georg Simmel. He later studied at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München and Heidelberg University, where he befriended Friedrich Gundolf and came in contact with the Stefan George circle. He remained in contact with Stefan George until 1925. He was also a regular guest in the home of Max Weber. Salz completed his dissertation in 1903 under Lujo Brentano, earning a doctorate in political science (Doctor Rerum Politicarum). Salz ran his family's business in Staab for a short time thereafter.

Salz was the co-editor of Heidelberger Studien aus dem Institut für Sozial- und Staatswissenschaft and lectured at the Handelshochschule in Mannheim and at the Akademie der Arbeit in Frankfurt. In 1907, Salz took on a position as a lecturer at Heidelberg University. After further studies at the University of Vienna and Charles University in Prague, Salz completed his post-doctoral work (habilitation) in 1909, entitled "Wallenstein als Merkantilist" ("Wallenstein as a Mercantilist").

Publications (selected)

Books Beiträge zur Geschichte und Kritik der Lohnfondstheorie, Stuttgart: Cotta, 1905. Geschichte der böhmischen Industrie in der Neuzeit, Munich: Duncker & Humblot, 1913. Für die Wissenschaft gegen die Gebildeten unter ihren Verächtern, Munich: Drei Masken Verlag, 1921. Macht und Wirtschaftsgesetz: Ein Beitrag zur Erkenntnis des Wesens der kapitalistischen Wirtschaftsverfassung, Leipzig: B.G. Teubner, 1930. Das Wesen des Imperialismus: Umrisse einer Theorie, Leipzig: B.G. Teubner, 1931.

Articles "Wallenstein als Merkantilist", Mitteilungen des Vereins für Geschichte der Deutschen in Böhmen 47(4) (1909): 433-461. "Anmerkungen zu Werner Somberts »HOCHKAPITALISMUS«. Zeitschrift für die gesamte Staatswissenschaft / Journal of Institutional and Theoretical Economics 85(1) (1928): 21-53. "Die Zukunft des Imperialismus", Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv 32 (1930): 317-348. "Economic Liberalism Reinterpreted." Social Research 8(3) (Sept. 1941): 373-389. "The Present Position of Economics." American Economic Review 34(1) (1944): 15-24. "The Metamorphosis of Power." Synopsis: Festgabe für Alfred Weber (1948): 459-476. "A Note from a Student of Simmel’s." In Kurt Wolff (ed.) Georg Simmel 1858-1918 (1959): 233-236.