Socialism, Markets, and the Critique of Money: The Theory of "Labor Notes"

ISBN-13: 9783030803971 / Angielski / Miękka / 2022

Tsuyoshi Yuki

Opis

This book provides a comprehensive overview of historical and international debates on the theory of “labor money” or “labor notes.” These debates exist in a triangular context of market socialism, communism (community-based socialism), and local currency, joining numerous socialists, anarchists, and Marx and Engels. Labor note theory encompasses theoretical, ideological, and practical doctrines aimed at designing a fair and desirable labor-based market or non-market economy by reforming the monetary and credit system. This theory was considered an unfeasible utopian idea in the context of orthodox Marxism, which is typically based on a historical study of surplus value doctrines. However, this book eschews Marx’s critique of “labor money” that limits the debate regarding a concrete alternative society, and instead proposes practical and gradual approaches to social reform by scrutinizing the primary sources of labor money theories and practical experiences and reconstructs their theoretical relationships.

Spis treści

Chapter 1. Issues, Methods, and Scopes

Chapter 2. Free Credit versus Value from Theory: On The Relation Between Proudhon's Market Socialism and Marx's Market Realism

Chapter 3. Theoretical Connotations of Marx's Critique of the Theory of Labor Money: On Socialism and Local Currencies

Chapter 4. Labor Note Theories of Robert Owen and Josiah Warren

Chapter 5. William Pare's Theory of Labor Notes: From an Analysis of Monetary Functions to a Vision of Markets

Chapter 6. Comparative Study of Owen's Theory of Labor Notes and the Theories of Local Currency

Chapter 7. John Gray's Theory of Labor Notes and it's Relevance to Money and Labor

Chapter 8. Reconsideration of Gesell's Critique of Marx's Theory of Capital

Chapter 9. Concluding Reflections on Money and the Market: Possible Lines of Development for Labor Notes Theory. 

O autorze

Tsuyoshi Yuki is Professor in the Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Saitama University, Japan.

Blurb

This book provides a comprehensive overview of historical and international debates on the theory of “labor money” or “labor notes.” These debates exist in a triangular context of market socialism, communism (community-based socialism), and local currency, joining numerous socialists, anarchists, and Marx and Engels. Labor note theory encompasses theoretical, ideological, and practical doctrines aimed at designing a fair and desirable labor-based market or non-market economy by reforming the monetary and credit system. This theory was considered an unfeasible utopian idea in the context of orthodox Marxism, which is typically based on a historical study of surplus value doctrines. However, this book eschews Marx’s critique of “labor money” that limits the debate regarding a concrete alternative society, and instead proposes practical and gradual approaches to social reform by scrutinizing the primary sources of labor money theories and practical experiences and reconstructs their theoretical relationships. 

Tsuyoshi Yuki is Professor in the Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Saitama University, Japan.