Political Economy: Political Economy (3^rd Ed.) The Contest of Economic Ideas, 3rd Edition

The third edition of Political Economy: The Contest of Economic Ideas is a fully updated overview of the political economy and its connection with social concerns. This book investigates the main traditions of economic ideas and provides a 'big picture' overview of the analytical tools and value judgements associated with competing schools of economic thought. Political Economy features an engaging writing style which makes the complexities of contesting economic ideas - such as classical political economy and Marxist economics, neoclassical economies and neo-liberalism - clear and accessible. This is essential reading for those students and teachers interested in broadening their understanding of conventional political economics, and considering the coherent and constructive alternatives.

Preface. Glossary. PART I Current Economic Processes and Problems. 1. What is Political Economy?. 2. The Personal is Political Economic. 3. Structural Economic Changes. 4. Political Economic Challenges. PART II Economic Systems and Economic Theories. 5. Economic Systems. 6. Capitalism. 7. Economic Theories. PART III Back to Basics: Classical Political Economy. 8. Capitalism Emerging. 9. Private Vices, Public Virtues. 10. Value, Distribution, Growth. 11. Land and Economic Surplus. PART IV The Critique of Capitalism: Marxist Economics. 12. Contesting Capitalism. 13. The Mode of Production. 14. Labour, Value, Exploitation. 15. Capital Accumulation. 16. Reproduction, Growth, Change. 17. Economic Crises. PART V The Ideology of the Market: Neoclassical Economics. 18. Free-market Economics. 19. Consumers. 20. Firms. 21. Market Structures. 22. Distribution. 23. Economic Welfare and Neo-Liberalism. PART VI Evolution and Reform: Institutional Economics. 24. Economy and Society. 25. A Dissident Tradition in Economics. 26. Economic Power. 27. Economic and Social Reform. 28. Corporate Globalisation. PART VII Stabilising the Economy: Keynesian Economics. 29. The Disillusioned Defence of Capitalism. 30. Constructing a Keynesian Model. 31. Instability in a Monetary Economy. 32. Macroeconomic Policy. 33. The Keynesian Legacy. PART VIII Contemporary Concerns: Modern Political Economy. 34. A Radical Reconstruction. 35. Economy and Environment. 36. Technology, Industry, Work. 37. Class, Gender, Ethnicity. 308c The Political Economy of the State. PART IX Whither Political Economy? Conflict and Progress. 39. Why Do Economists Disagree?. 40. A Level Playing Field for Economic Ideas?. 41. W(h)ither Capitalism?. 42. A Happy Ending?. Endnotes. Index.

Frank Stilwell is a Professor within the Department of Political Economy at The University of Sydney. His research interests centre on Australian economic policies, urban and regional development and economic inequality.