The theory of crisis has always played a central role within Marxism, and yet has been one of its weakest elements. Simon Clarke's important new book provides the first systematic account of Marx's own writings on crisis, examining the theory within the context of Marx's critique of political economy and of the dynamics of capitalism. The book concentrates on the scientific interpretation and evaluation of the theory of crisis, and will be of interest to mainstream economists, as well as to sociologists, political scientists and students of Marx and Marxism.

Contents

The theory of crisis has always played a central role within Marxism, and yet has been one of its weakest elements. Simon Clarke's important new book provides the first systematic account of Marx's own writings on crisis, examining the theory within the context of Marx's critique of political economy and of the dynamics of capitalism. The book concentrates on the scientific interpretation and evaluation of the theory of crisis, and will be of interest to mainstream economists, as well as to sociologists, political scientists and students of Marx and Marxism.

Contents

Introduction: Marxism and the Theory of Crisis - The Theory of Crisis in the Marxist Tradition - Overproduction and Crisis in the Early Works - Production, Circulation and Global Crisis after 1848 - Money, Capital and Crisis in the Grundrisse - Underconsumption, Disproportionality and Overproduction - The Falling Rate of Profit and the Tendency to Crisis - Crises and the General Law of Capitalist Accumulation - Conclusion - Bibliography - Index