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Transformation Problem

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Abstract

The ‘transformation problem’ is at the heart of the Marxian labour theory of value. The topic has always been the subject of sharp controversy. The controversy reflects not only the general ideological conflicts that surround all Marxist ideas, but also the disagreement among Marxists themselves about the nature of the labour theory of value. After defining the problem in Marx’s terms, we first present Marx’s solution and the claims which he makes regarding its properties. This discussion is then followed by a brief critical review of the various solutions which have been proposed since Marx.

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© 2018 Macmillan Publishers Ltd.

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Hunt, E.K., Glick, M. (2018). Transformation Problem. In: The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-95189-5_1771

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