This work investigates how the doctrine of possessive individualism serves as a foundational, yet destabilizing, element within modern capitalist systems. Daniel W. Bromley, an economist specializing in institutional economics, utilizes a framework rooted in political economy to analyze the intersection of individual property rights and collective social welfare. He argues that the hyper-focus on individual acquisition creates systemic contradictions that undermine the long-term viability of market economies.

Scholars in institutional economics frequently cite this text for its rigorous critique of the ideological underpinnings of market capitalism. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which requires a foundational understanding of economic theory to fully grasp the author's arguments.