Cambridge Economics as Commodity Fetishism

Abstract

This article presents a Marxist critique of the Cambridge school, focussing particularly on the work of Piero Sraffa and Joan Robinson. Taking issue with those who see Cambridge economics as a contribution in the Marxian tradition, the author stresses the differences between the approaches of Marx and the Cantabrigians. After pointing out that the latter view history in a non-Marxian way, he goes on to argue that their economics has the effect of mystifying the basic social relations of capitalism. Finally, it is noted that Cambridge economics leads to a political strategy which aims at improving the distribution of income without altering the hierarchical structure of capitalist production.