Werner Sombart ( January 19 , 1863 -- May 18 , 1941 ) was a German economist and sociologist and was an important social scientist to Europe during the early 20th century . Werner Sombart ( 19 January 1863 -- 18 May 1941 ) was a German economist and sociologist , the head of the â Youngest Historical Schoolâ and one of the leading Continental European social scientists during the first quarter of the 20th century .