Theory of Capital Development

by Paul M. Sweezy

Book Overview

Since its first publication in 1942, this book has become the classic analytical study of Marxist economics. Written by an economist who was a master of modern academic theory as well as Marxist literature, it has been recognized as the ideal textbook in its subject. Comprehensive, lucid, authoritative, it has not been challenged or even approached by any later study.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 085345079X
• ISBN13: 9780853450795
• Release Date: January 1942
• Publisher: Monthly Review Press
• Length: 398 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

A good book on Marxian economics

I have been reading through Capital volume I and wondered if there were any good books (in English) on Marxian economics. Two of Paul Sweezy's works, Monopoly Capital and this book, Theory of Capitalist Development were recommended. This book is an explanation of Marxian economics - the economic theories of Marx and the work of his followers up until the 1940s when this book was written, and the various debates over his theories. It is a good book. One should know however that there are various schools of Marxian thought, and not every Marxist economist thinks Ladislaus Bortkiewicz solved the "transformation problem", if there is a transformation problem in the first place. In other words, this is a good book, but you should read other views of these ideas as well.

The best marxism textbook

Even the marxist economic theory is viewed with some prejudice after the 20th century, is always interesting to an Economics student read about the Karl Marx's works. And, if "Das Kapital", his most famous and influent book is very extensive and hard to be read in original, you have a great alternative in Sweezy's book.Sweezy is graduated in Harvard, and dedicated all his academic life to become the marxism an "integral and respected part of intellectual life of the USA". His "Theory of Capitalist Development" brings the Marx's ideas in an easy and very didactic way, and more: includes the discussion of another marxists, like Bortkiewicz, Bukharin and Rosa Luxemburg.It's wrong to think about this book as pamphlet of marxism. Sweezy is extremely analytic and critical, comparing the marxist theory with the classic and neo-classic theories, with academic rigor and respect. "Theory of Capitalist Development" is an excellent work, and should be a must-read for everyone who wants to understand the fundaments of a theory which changed the life of million of people.