As a leading intellectual of the Progressive Era , Veblen made sweeping attacks on production for profit , and the emphasis on the wasteful role of consumption for status found within many of his works greatly influenced socialist thinkers and engineers who sought a non-Marxist critique of capitalism .
As a leading intellectual of the Progressive Era , Veblen attacked production for profit . 
 His emphasis on conspicuous consumption greatly influenced the socialist thinkers and engineers who sought a non-Marxist critique of capitalism .