In-depth description of Marxist economics?

[DecDoom]

I have a friend who is really into economics, and he wants a really in-depth description of Marxist economics.

Any suggestions?

[Son of a Strummer]

For a very in depth and excellent book I would suggest David Harvey's great books, either "A Companion to Marx's Capital" or the monumental "Limits to Capital". Harvey is not merely a fawning cheerleader for Marx either.

For an excellent introduction try the following article from economist Michael Lebowitz:

http://www.dougdowd.org/NewFiles/articles/lebowitzhi.html

[Kotze]

I suggest reading David Ricardo (http://www.marxists.org/reference/subject/economics/ricardo/tax/index.htm) (the most important economist to Marx) and then Capital I (http://marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1867-c1/index.htm), tell him not to worry about not understanding the first few chapters, the stuff about money in there is BS, and it gets better after that.

Some economists influenced by Marx: Piero Sraffa (http://homepage.newschool.edu/het//profiles/sraffa.htm) (check the 1925 and 1926 articles about neoclassical economics linked there), Anwar Shaikh (http://homepage.newschool.edu/%7EAShaikh/), Cockshott & Cottrell (http://www.dcs.gla.ac.uk/%7Ewpc/reports/) (see also their book about a planned economy (http://ricardo.ecn.wfu.edu/%7Ecottrell/socialism_book/)).

[Rusty Shackleford]

Capital Vols. 1-3

[S.Artesian]

One great book on Marxist economics-- and not for beginners is The Capitalist Cycle by Pavel Maksakovsky.

Another great book: Henryk Grossman's The Law of Accumulation and the Breakdown of the Capitalist System.

And there's always Capital -- particularly the first 3 chapters in volume 1, volume 2 and 3 where, despite many difficulties due to the unfinished nature of the works, Marx grapples with expanded reproduction.

[KC]

Just have him read the book I transcribed in the Theory forum.

[Nikolay]

Capital Vols. 1-3

+1

I'm currently reading all three volumes (obviously one at a time). I found the start of Volume One a bit boring though.. None the less, it's still a masterpiece.

[gestalt]

If you want an introductory primary source: Value, Price and Profit was designed to summarize his economics at the First International.

Otherwise the David Harvey works were the most enjoyable and informative I have come across. Also recommended is his online series, along with the ones by Richard Wolff.

[Os Cangaceiros]

along with the ones by Richard Wolff.

Yeah. Economics: Marxian vs Neoclassical is good.

[Lyev]

I'm not sure if it's overly pedantic to find a qualm with using the phrase "Marxist economics", but I think it's better to call it his "critique of political economy", because he was never exclusively an economist. The error of many bourgeois thinkers in misunderstanding Marx - especially regarding his political economy - is they do not fully realise the overlaps and connections between all of his other works. Das Kapital was not just a dry economic textbook, but an passionate argument for sublating capital in favour of a new, higher social form. It was not only a treatise against the illogicality and injustice of the capitalist system, but, read properly, a guide to action (as with much of his work). You cannot separate Marx's economic ideas properly from their revolutionary form. Or, if you do, you fail to comprehend these concept at their core. That was a rather convoluted, rambling way of saying that I don't think you should regard Marx's economic stuff in a vacuum, in isolation, but you really need to understand how Das Kapital is (often intrinsically) tied in with many of his other writings.

[Sixiang]

I second the suggestion of David Harvey. Also, I recommend this guy's blog and youtube videos: http://kapitalism101.wordpress.com/

I recommend that guy (Brendan Cooney) to beginners to Marxism. I give him a ton of credit for introducing me to Marxist economics and helping me understand on a simple level. He lays it out in plain English. I think that if it wasn't for reading every single post he made on his blog, I would have probably given up on Marxism.