Description
Back to Keynes
Book Summary
In "Back to Keynes," Axel Kicillof provides a profound rereading of the work of economist John Maynard Keynes, with the aim of rescuing his original ideas from the simplified interpretations of his followers. The author demonstrates how Keynes's genuine theories, set forth in his "General Theory," offer essential tools for understanding the crises of contemporary capitalism. Through rigorous analysis, Kicillof unravels the theoretical foundations underlying current economic models, returning essential categories like commodities, money, and capital to the center of the debate. An indispensable work for those seeking to understand economics beyond mathematical formulas.
What is it about?
The book is structured around two fundamental objectives. First, Kicillof argues that a large number of economists who call themselves "Keynesians" have distorted Keynes's most relevant ideas, simplifying his thought and adapting it to theoretical frameworks foreign to its original spirit. Second, the author demonstrates that Keynes's genuine theories, particularly those contained in his magnum opus "The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money," possess enormous explanatory potential for addressing current economic crises.
Kicillof argues that Keynes's most valuable legacy lies in his theoretical foundations, not in isolated economic policy recipes. Keynes reveals how, behind the sophisticated mathematical models of modern economics, basic conceptions regarding categories such as commodities, money, and capital are hidden. The author maintains that these seemingly simple categories are the true pillars of all economic theory and that ignoring them has prevented an understanding of the central aspects of contemporary capitalism.
Main themes
- Critical reinterpretation of John Maynard Keynes's work versus conventional "Keynesianism."
- Analysis of the "General Theory" as a source of tools for understanding capitalist crises.
- Theoretical foundations of economics: commodities, money, and capital as essential categories.
- Critique of the excessive mathematization of economics and its obscuring of underlying concepts.
- Relationship between classical economic theory and the problems of contemporary capitalism.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at students and professionals in economics, political science, and sociology who wish to delve into heterodox economic thought. It is also of great interest to readers with a background in economic theory who are looking for a critical review of the dominant interpretations of Keynes. Those interested in understanding the roots of financial crises and theoretical alternatives to economic orthodoxy will find a rigorous and enlightening analysis in this work.
What this book contributes
- Offers an original and rigorous reading of Keynes's work, distinguishing it from simplified interpretations.
- Provides conceptual tools to analyze economic crises from a solid theoretical perspective.
- Helps understand the importance of basic economic categories (commodities, money, capital) in the construction of economic models.
- Invites critical reflection on the limits of mathematical economics and its explanatory capacity.
- Connects Keynes's thought with current debates on capitalism and its contradictions.
Technical Data
- Author: Kicillof, Axel
- Publisher: Clave Intelectual- Eudeba
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: Literary essays, society and culture: general, sociology and anthropology, social services and welfare, criminology, politics and government, economics, finance and accounting
- Collection: EUDEBA
- Binding: Other
- Publication Date: April 2012
- Number of pages: 496
- Weight: 729 g
Editorial Assessment
"Back to Keynes" is presented as a reference work for those seeking a deep, non-dogmatic understanding of the thought of one of the most influential economists of the 20th century. Axel Kicillof succeeds in articulating a solid critique of the simplified interpretations of Keynesianism, while demonstrating the continued relevance of Keynes's original ideas for analyzing contemporary capitalism. It is a dense and demanding book, but it rewards the reader with a renewed perspective and highly valuable analytical tools. Recommended for an academic and specialized audience interested in heterodox economic theory and critiques of dominant economic thought.