More and more people have turned to Marxian economics in recent years. But isn t it a defunct branch of the dismal science , disproven by the experience of the past 150 years, of no interest to anyone except historians? In this book, David Ruccio demonstrates why the answer to that question is a resounding no . He offers a clear and accessible introduction to the basic concepts and theoretical strategies of Marxian economics, its key differences from mainstream economics, and its many applications to the real world. Focusing on Marx s critique of both mainstream economic theory and capitalism, Ruccio extends that analysis to contemporary topics from inequality and economic crises to racial capitalism and the climate crisis and outlines the key debates among Marxian economists. He concludes with a discussion of the ways Marxian economists today think about the possibility of moving beyond capitalism. The book is suitable for students and professors, as well as readers outside the academy interested in learning about Marxian economics. It will be useful both as a stand-alone text and as a companion to reading Capital.

More and more people have turned to Marxian economics in recent years. But isn't it a defunct branch of the 'dismal science', disproven by the experience of the past 150 years, of no interest to anyone except historians?In this book, David Ruccio demonstrates why the answer to that question is a resounding 'no'. He offers a clear and accessible introduction to the basic concepts and theoretical strategies of Marxian economics, its key differences from mainstream economics, and its many applications to the real world. Focusing on Marx's critique of both mainstream economic theory and capitalism, Ruccio extends that analysis to contemporary topics--from inequality and economic crises to racial capitalism and the climate crisis--and outlines the key debates among Marxian economists. He concludes with a discussion of the ways Marxian economists today think about the possibility of moving beyond capitalism.The book is suitable for students and professors, as well as readers outside the academy interested in learning about Marxian economics. It will be useful both as a stand-alone text and as a companion to reading Capital.

About the AuthorPrefaceAcknowledgementsGlossaryReferencesVariablesPart 1Chapter 1 Marxian Economics TodayChapter 2 Marxian Versus Mainstream EconomicsChapter 3 Origins of the Marxian Critique of Political EconomyPart 2Chapter 4 Commodities and MoneyChapter 5 Surplus-Value and ExploitationChapter 6 Profits, Wages, and Distribution of Surplus-ValuePart 3Chapter 7 Applications of Marxian EconomicsChapter 8 Debates in and around Marxian EconomicsChapter 9 Transitions to and from CapitalismNotesIndex