A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy

First published in 1859 the Critique is the precursor for the systematic theoretical analysis of political economy expounded in Capital. In this work Marx examines the problem of commodities and commodity production as well as the question of money as a universal measure of value and medium of exchange. This examination provides the crucial methodological basis for understanding the labour theory of value and surplus value — the key concepts of Marxist economics. Maurice Dobb eminent Marxist economist has provided an introduction which explains the significance of the Critique withinthe body of Marx’s economic work. The present edition is reprinted from the 1970 edition published in Moscow by Progress Publishers in London by Lawrence & Wishart and in New York by International Publishers Inc. This translation from Germna by S. W. Ryazanskaya edited by Maurice Dobb has been made from Marx/Engels Werke Band 13 Dietz Verlag Berlin 1964. The aim has been to make the translation as close as possible to original. When for the sake of clarity it has been found necessary to insert a few words these are enclosed in square brackets. Italicised passages and words indicate emphasis by Marx; but following the English custom titles of publications and foreign words are also italicised. Footnotes and marginal notes by Marx are indicated by asterisks the editor’s footnotes by index letters and reference notes by superscript numbers.