Marx's Wage Theory in Historical Perspective: Its Origins, Development and Interpretation

Review "Lapides has plumbed Marx's extensive political economy writing to present the first-ever full, consolidated statement of Marx's wage theory. [It] is faithful to Marx's formulations, with frequent excerpts from Marx. The result is a convincing recapitulation of Marx's 'revolution in wage theory'....makes an outstanding contribution."  --George Fishman, Labor Studies Journal"...useful beyond any interest that a reader might have in Marx's economic theory. Indeed, about half the chapters are taken up with elucidating the ideas of his predecessors....an insightful and useful contribution toward our better understanding of the history of economic thought." --M.C. Howard, History of Political Economy"...a major contribution to the history of economic thought. It covers long-forgotten ground, by providing a comprehensive account of the initial phase of wage theory...with detailed documentation from original sources....this is a book to be read and to be savored....it illuminates many contemporary economic problems." --Brian Burkitt, Labor History"...enhances our understanding of the core elements of Marx's economic theory and facilitates the appropriate situating of Marx in the pantheon of economic theorists...Lapides's scholarship is evident in the impressive range of primary materials and sources that he has adduced here." --Fletcher Baragar, Labour/Le Travail"...an invaluable reconstruction [of Marx's wage theory]."   --John Bellamy Foster, The Theory of Monopoly Capitalism"Lapides has a real gift for collection and summary, the result being a lucid compendium of views strewn across two centuries of labor economics, and across dozens of volumes of the Marx-Engels Collected Works." --Heath Pearson, Journal of Economic History Product Description Karl Marx's theory of wages and wage labor, elaborated over the course of many years and in various works, is presented here in his own words in its entirety for the first time. Marx's theory is examined also in its historical context: the author traces the development of wage theory from its origins in the 17th century to the critique of it by the early socialists who were Marx's immediate predecessors. In the words of one scholar, this book is "a major contribution to the history of economic thought." About the Author Kenneth Lapides is the editor of Marx and Engels on the Trade Unions, the first complete collection of Marx's and Engels' writings on the labor movement. He has also published translations from the work of Henryk Grossmann. He is a veteran of both the Marxist and trade union movements. Throughout the 1970's as a shop steward in the Communications Workers of America he experienced the inner life of a workers' organization, representing co-workers in their grievances with management and participating in several important strikes. During this time he was also labor editor of a Marxist newsweekly. He holds a degree in History from Brandeis University.