Value

'Value' seems like an elusive and abstract concept. Nonetheless, notions of value underpin how we understand our lives, from discussions about the economic contribution of different kinds of work and productive activity, to the prices we pay for the things we consume. So what is value, and where does it come from? In this new book, Frederick Harry Pitts charts the past, present and future of value within and beyond capitalist society, critically engaging with key concepts from classical and neoclassical political economy. Interrogating the processes and practices that attribute value to objects and activities, he considers debates over whether value lies within commodities or in their exchange, the politics of different theories of value, and how we measure value in a knowledge-based economy. This accessible and intriguing introduction to the complexities of value in modern society will be essential reading for any student or scholar working in political economy, economics, economic sociology or management.

Introduction Notes 1 Value as Substance Mercantilism and Physiocracy Smith and Ricardo Marx Notes 2 Value as Relation The Denial of Value Marx Marx and Marginalism Notes 3 Value as Utility Foundations The Util Measure Notes 4 Value and Institutions A Social Theory of Value Sociology of Valuation and Evaluation The Politics of Value Notes 5 Value as Struggle Social Constitution Value at Work Class Subjectivity Notes 6 Value in Crisis A Crisis of Value? Finance and Value The Future of Value Notes Index