Best Textbook on Classical Marxist Economics?

[Solid_Choke]

I am currently a student of economics and am writing a paper on Classical Marxist economics (the actual economics of Marx and Engels, not any of the later communists).

I need help choosing a textbook that is considered authoritative by actual Marxists and that takes a favorable stance on Marxism. Where should I start?

[bailey_187]

R D Wolff's Economics: Marxian versus Neoclassical

[Paul Cockshott]

A good recent book is An introduction to Marx's "Capital" (in 3 volumes) / Ranganayakamma (http://openlibrary.org/works/OL303031W/An-introduction-to-Marx%27s-%22Capital%22-%28in-3-volumes%29-/-Ranganayakamma-;-English-translation:-K.V.R.,-S.V.-Rajyalakshmi,-B.R.-Bapuji)

[which doctor]

hate to state the obvious, but...

Marx and Engels - Selected Works

[ZeroNowhere]

'Reclaiming Capital' by Andrew Kliman. Other than that, there's some stuff on them in 'The Marxian Concept of Capital' and the Soviet Experience', as well as a bit in 'Marxism and Hegel', though the first is more focused on its application to the USSR, whereas the second is focused on Marx's relationship to Hegel and Kant, why 'dialectical materialism' is Hegelian nonsense, etc.

Karl Korsch's book is worth reading (and free (http://www.marx.org/archive/korsch/1938/karl-marx/index.htm)). Something more textbook-like is this book (http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=8860782). Other than that, there's 'Capital', of course. Though I would advise just browsing through the first three chapters at first, since it seems that turns off a few people, and then go back to them after the rest.

[Solid_Choke]

R D Wolff's Economics: Marxian versus Neoclassical
Thanks. I'll check it out.


A good recent book is An introduction to Marx's "Capital" (in 3 volumes) / Ranganayakamma
That link is broken.

[Paul Cockshott]

Thanks. I'll check it out.


That link is broken.
You should be able to order it from http://www.ranganayakamma.org/

[blake 3:17]

The best intro I've read is Marxist Economics for Socialists: A critique of reformism by John Harrison. I believe it has had a few different publishers. Not sure about how about how available it these days. Really lucid explanations of labour theory of value, exploitation, commodity fetishism, all that. Readable in a day or three and well worth rereading.

[proudcomrade]

What exactly is the focus of your paper? That could influence things some.