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The Emergence of Money in Commodity Exchange, or Money as Monopolist of the Ability to Buy

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  • Costas Lapavitsas

Abstract

Money's emergence in commodity exchange remains an unresolved issue within economic theory. Current general equilibrium models offer an explanation that rests on the economic advantages of a universally accepted means of exchange that is partly established through social custom. These models neither fully explain money's unique ability to buy, nor theorise the customary practices required for money's emergence. They are dominated by Menger's earlier analysis of money's emergence, which pays more attention to the social foundations of money but is still hampered by Austrian individualism. An alternative explanation is given here, drawing on Marx's theory of value but involving a thorough reworking of it. An analytical process is established through which money finally emerges as monopolist of the ability to buy. Particular social custom, whose determinants are consistent with the social underpinnings of commodity exchange, plays a vital role in money's emergence.

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  • Costas Lapavitsas, 2005. "The Emergence of Money in Commodity Exchange, or Money as Monopolist of the Ability to Buy," Review of Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 17(4), pages 549-569.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:revpoe:v:17:y:2005:i:4:p:549-569
    DOI: 10.1080/09538250500252823
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Alex Lamarche-Perrin & André Orléan & Pablo Jensen, 2018. "Coexistence of several currencies in presence of increasing returns to adoption," Post-Print hal-01531277, HAL.
    2. Alex Lamarche-Perrin & André Orléan & Pablo Jensen, 2018. "Coexistence of several currencies in presence of increasing returns to adoption," PSE-Ecole d'économie de Paris (Postprint) hal-01531277, HAL.
    3. Lamarche-Perrin, Alex & Orléan, André & Jensen, Pablo, 2018. "Coexistence of several currencies in presence of increasing returns to adoption," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 496(C), pages 612-619.
    4. Lamarche-Perrin, Alex & Orléan, André & Jensen, Pablo, 2018. "Coexistence of several currencies in presence of increasing returns to adoption," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 496(C), pages 612-619.
    5. Alex Lamarche-Perrin & Andr'e Orl'ean & Pablo Jensen, 2018. "Coexistence of several currencies in presence of increasing returns to adoption," Papers 1801.04218, arXiv.org.
    6. Labrinidis, George, 2014. "International reserves in the era of quasi-world money," MPRA Paper 59963, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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