FIRST EDITION OF JOAN ROBINSON’S ESSAY ON MARXIAN ECONOMICS, 1942

ROBINSON, Joan. An Essay on Marxian Economics. London: Macmillan, 1942. Slim octavo, original red cloth. $200.

First edition of Robinson’s pivotal essay comparing Marx’s Capital with mid 20th-century academic theory.

Written during the darkest days of World War II, this fascinating essay by Keynesian economist Joan Robinson examines the implication of Marx’s Capital in light of reigning mid 20th-century academic theory. Robinson attempts to discern whether Marx’s work continues to have applicability and, if so, what the relevance would be for the future of economics. “In 1931, Joan Robinson belonged to the little ‘circus’ that helped John Maynard Keynes to make the transition from A Treatise on Money to the General Theory. She became an ardent left-wing Keynesian of the first hour. But Keynes, Robinson soon realized, was not going to revolutionize capitalism… Robinson conceived the plan of extending the short-run Keynesian system to the long run, thus developing it into a theory of economic growth” (Niehans, 304). Without original dust jacket. Ex-library, with paper repairs to title page most likely to cover stamping and faint shelf numbers on front board.

Slightest rubbing to cloth. An attractive copy in extremely good condition.