Handbook of Leadership Theory and Practice

10

AN ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE ON LEADERSHIP

Mark A. Zupan

Introduction

Much like Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart and his struggle with defining pornography (“I know it when I see it”), scholars have been hard pressed to develop a model of leadership. This is not for lack of trying. Each year, scores of books are written on the topic (more than on any other), cataloging traits and operating styles that effective leaders possess and/or providing emblematic case studies and anecdotes. According to Bob Eckert, chairman and CEO of Mattel, Inc., a search on Amazon.com reveals nearly 200,000 matches for books dealing with leadership (Eckert, 2008). Countless speakers like Bob are invited to business schools as well as for university commencement ...