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Monopoly capital and capitalist inefficiency

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  • Thomas E. Lambert
  • Edward Kwon

Abstract

This paper examines the arguments and assertions of Baran's and Sweezy's Monopoly Capital: An Essay on the American Economic and Social Order (1966) by assessing the degree of economic efficiency or inefficiency in how surplus value and economic surplus were created by 16 major capitalist economies during the 2000s using data envelopment analysis (DEA). After assigning a score to the degree of economic efficiency/inefficiency for each country, one can then assess which factors influence the degree of efficiency/inefficiency. This paper finds empirical support for many of the arguments put forth by the authors, Baran and Sweezy, as well as others regarding the inefficiency of the use of some forms of economic activity to help absorb economic surplus and to create surplus value.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas E. Lambert & Edward Kwon, 2015. "Monopoly capital and capitalist inefficiency," International Review of Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(4), pages 533-552, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:irapec:v:29:y:2015:i:4:p:533-552
    DOI: 10.1080/02692171.2015.1016409
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Thomas E. Lambert, 2020. "Monopoly capital and innovation: an exploratory assessment of R&D effectiveness," International Review of Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(1), pages 36-49, January.
    2. Thomas E. LAMBERT, 2016. "Monopoly Capital and Capitalist Inequality: Marx after Piketty," Journal of Economics and Political Economy, KSP Journals, vol. 3(1), pages 151-159, March.
    3. Lambert, Thomas, 2021. "The Baran Ratio, Investment, and British Economic Growth and Investment," MPRA Paper 109546, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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    JEL classification:

    • B24 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought since 1925 - - - Socialist; Marxist; Scraffian
    • B51 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Current Heterodox Approaches - - - Socialist; Marxian; Sraffian

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