| Summary: | This book demonstrates the continuing relevance of Marxs critique of the capitalist system, in which value is equated simply with market price. Marxs concept of fetishism is explored in detail, including the distinction between commodity fetishism and other forms: of money, capital and interest-bearing capital. Marxs theory of exchange-value is analysed in relation to those of Ricardo and Samuel Bailey. The case is made for understanding value by analogy with language, followed by a critical assessment of Structural Marxism. Marxs focus on the social relations of production is broadened to also include exchange and consumption. A lengthy final section critically assesses recent Marx-inspired literature relating to the two major crises of our time, finance and the environment. Desmond McNeill (PhD, economics, University of London) is attached to the Centre for Development and the Environment, at the University of Oslo, Norway, where he has earlier been Research Professor and Director.
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