Piero Sraffa and Joan Robinson, both iconic Cambridge economists, were highly influenced by the economic theory of Karl Marx, and integrated important elements of Marxs economic system into their theories. This book argues, based on published and unpublished documents, that the work of Sraffa and Robinson can in fact be considered as essentially post-Keynesian neo-Marxist.
The first part of the book reviews the intellectual development of several key thinkers to this neo-Marxist current in economic thought: Kalecki, Steindl, Baran and Sweezy. Part One and Part Two separately examine Robinson and Sraffas works and questions how they fit into this specific neo-Marxist current, either building on it (in Robinsons case), or following another direction (in Sraffas case). Part Three observes Robinsons theory of economic growth and its relationship to the views of Marx and Kalecki. Overall, Cuyvers demonstrates how their thought processes share characteristics with neo-Marxist key ideological ideas, such as stating or implying the labour theory of value as either redundant or wrong, emphasising the role of class struggle in the distribution of income and rejecting Marxs falling rate of profits.
Following on from ideas briefly introduced in Cuyverss Economic Ideas of Marxs Capital (2017), this book will particularly appeal to readers interested in the history of economic thought, the work of Sraffa, Robinson and Marx, post-Keynesian economics and neo-Marxism.
Part I: Post-Keynesian Neo-Marxism: The Trajectory
1. The core of Marxs economics and the monopolization of capitalism: An Introduction to some major issues.
2. The Oxbridge connection: Sraffa, Kalecki, Steindl
3. The other side of the Atlantic
4. Piero Sraffa and Joan Robinson: Two directions of Post-Keynesian neo-Marxism.
5. What remains of the post-Keynesian neo-Marxist economics? An unfinished integration
Part II: Piero Sraffas neo-Marxist theory of value and distribution.
6. The work and life of Piero Sraffa
7. Let one hundred schools of thought blossom : Some major differences with Marx
8. How were Sraffas theoretical insights received by the Marxists? A timeline
9. What to conclude?
Part III: Joan Robinson: Modelling capitalist economic growth with Marxist and neo-Marxist ingredients
10. Joan Robinsons life: A short overview.
11. Robinsons theory of economic growth and accumulation in a nutshell
12. Joan Robinsons and Marxs model and concepts compared
13. What is Joan Robinsons indebtedness to Sraffa?
14. Robinsons model of economic growth compared with Marx and with the post-Keynesian neo-Marxism of the 1940s and 1950s.
15. What has remained of Robinsons post-Keynesian neo-Marxism?