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Surplus Approach and Institutions: Where Sraffa Meets Polanyi

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  • Cesaratto, Sergio

    (University of Siena)

Abstract

Relying on anthropological and archaeological research based on the notion of social surplus, and on the lessons of Marx, Polanyi, Sraffa and Garegnani, the paper argues that the classical surplus approach is naturally associated with institutional and historical analysis. The concept of social surplus is a skeleton which is given muscles by institutional analysis while the latter would be enervated if not anchored to a base of ultimate material interests. Institutions should be looked at in relation to the extraction and distribution of the social surplus and the resulting inequality and social conflict. The paper offers a novel Post Keynesian view of institutions in an interdisciplinary perspective.

Suggested Citation

  • Cesaratto, Sergio, 2023. "Surplus Approach and Institutions: Where Sraffa Meets Polanyi," Centro Sraffa Working Papers CSWP61, Centro di Ricerche e Documentazione "Piero Sraffa", revised 02 May 2023.
    • Handle: RePEc:ris:sraffa:0061
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Cesaratto, Sergio, 2023. "Schools of Athens: Surplus Approach, Marxism and Institutions," Centro Sraffa Working Papers CSWP62, Centro di Ricerche e Documentazione "Piero Sraffa".

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Surplus; Economic History; Institutions; Marx; Sraffa; Polanyi;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A12 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Relation of Economics to Other Disciplines
    • 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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