Paul M. Sweezy

Paul M. Sweezy (New York, 1910-2004) was a co-founder and, for over half a century, co-editor of Monthly Review. At the basis of his theoretical thought there is a Marxian approach, open and creative, and an attention to high elaboration of the twentieth century – Hilferding and Veblen, Schumpeter and Keynes, Kalecki and Steindl. With The Theory of Capitalist Development (1942) and Monopoly Capital (1966, written with Baran), he was a reference point on a global level. Monopoly capitalism is marked by an organic tendency to stagnation. Antagonistic factors can, in some way, counteract it: waste, with induced consumption and armaments, epoch-making innovations and wars. In the Sweezian reflection of the last quarter of the twentieth century – also in dialogue with Minsky – the systemic trend is particularly counteracted by the large indebtedness and finance explosion.
[Florence: 2022]

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