Description
Fictitious Capital
Book Summary
In Fictitious Capital, Cédric Durand offers a rigorous and accessible analysis of the functioning of contemporary financial capitalism. The book dismantles superficial explanations that attribute financial crises to individual greed or regulatory failures, focusing instead on the structural logic that drives the expansion of fictitious capital. The reader will find a clear explanation of how financialization transforms the real economy, generating instability and concentrating wealth.
What is it about?
Durand examines the nature of fictitious capital, a key concept for understanding the system's recurrent crises. The work explains how the accumulation of financial assets, detached from real production, has become the main engine of the global economy. Through a historical and theoretical analysis, the author shows that turbulence is not accidental, but a logical consequence of a system that prioritizes speculation over productive investment. The book unravels the connections between finance, debt, speculative bubbles, and corporate power, offering a critical perspective on the dynamics that govern current capitalism.
Main themes
- Nature and functions of fictitious capital in the contemporary economy.
- Relationship between financialization, economic crises, and inequality.
- Critical analysis of conventional explanations for financial turbulence.
- Historical evolution of financial capitalism from the 20th century to the present.
- Mechanisms of accumulation and concentration of economic power through financial markets.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at readers interested in political economy, sociology, and critical theory, as well as students and professionals seeking to understand the structural roots of financial instability. It will also be of great use to those who wish to look beyond superficial media analyses and delve into the real dynamics of global capitalism.
What this book offers
- A clear and rigorous explanation of the concept of fictitious capital and its relevance for understanding crises.
- A structural analysis that goes beyond explanations based on morality or regulatory errors.
- Conceptual tools to interpret the recent evolution of the world economy.
- A critical perspective that invites reflection on alternatives to the dominant financial model.
Technical specifications
- Author: Durand, Cédric
- Publisher: Ned Ediciones
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: Social and cultural history, Society and culture: general, Economic theory and philosophy
- Collection: Huellas y señales
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: June 2018
- Number of pages: 192
- Weight: 250 g
Editorial review
Fictitious Capital is an essential work for those seeking to understand the profound dynamics of financial capitalism without falling into simplifications. Durand manages to combine academic rigor with clarity of exposition, making a complex subject accessible. His structural and critical approach makes it a valuable read for both specialists and general readers interested in contemporary economy and society.