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Reading Capital in the Twenty-First Century: Thomas Piketty and political economy
[Lire Le Capital au xxie siècle : Thomas Piketty et l’économie politique]

Author

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  • Kotz, David M.
  • McDonough, Terrence
  • McMahon, Can

Abstract

This paper offers a radical political economy critique of Thomas Piketty’s Capital in the Twenty-First Century, drawing on heterodox economics and the social structure of accumulation (SSA) theory. We argue that the dynamics of inequality in capitalist systems cannot be fully explained at the level of capitalism in general, or by supplementing such an account with reference to state policies or contingent events, but require attention to the specific institutional form of capitalism.

Suggested Citation

  • Kotz, David M. & McDonough, Terrence & McMahon, Can, 2019. "Reading Capital in the Twenty-First Century: Thomas Piketty and political economy [Lire Le Capital au xxie siècle : Thomas Piketty et l’économie politique]," Revue de la Régulation - Capitalisme, institutions, pouvoirs, Association Recherche et Régulation, vol. 26.
    • Handle: RePEc:rvr:journl:2019:15525
    DOI: 10.4000/regulation.15525
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    political economy; inequality; social structure of accumulation (SSA) theory;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • B50 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Current Heterodox Approaches - - - General
    • B51 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Current Heterodox Approaches - - - Socialist; Marxian; Sraffian
    • B52 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Current Heterodox Approaches - - - Historical; Institutional; Evolutionary; Modern Monetary Theory;

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