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ABSTRACT: Wal-Mart's failed entry into the German retail market represents a puzzle for theories of globalization, which assert that more efficient producers will drive out poorly performing competitors, producing profits [...]

Since the 1970s, corporate governance in the United States has become increasingly beholden to Wall Street. This trend is so prominent that the resulting formation is increasingly known as money manager capitalism. This article explores some of the reasons behind this change, and its implications for the American economy. Keywords: money manager capitalism, financialization, instability, predation JEL Classification Codes: D21, E02, E44; G38, By contrast to Greek goddesses, new social formations emerge over time and coexist in the shadow of the old before becoming established as the new normal. In the United States, [...]

L'auteure assure que subsister, se suffire, pour les paysans, c'est une transgression face aux arrangements economiques et politiques dominants qui sont banalises et meme declares morts. Mais ils serviront b [...]

In this paper, we critically assess two of the key conceptual foundations for the comparative capitalisms (CC) literatures, neo-pluralist political science and economic sociology, in order to identify more clearly the deep intellectual roots of these literatures. Principally, we focus on how the strengths of neo-pluralism and economic sociology their attention to detail in considering the huge range of 'types' of capitalism that exist across the world--come at a high price. Put briefly, the redefinition of 'capitalism' as 'the economy' concentrates research agendas on the specific political and social conditions found across the world, leaving 'the economy' relatively untouched. In consequence, 'capitalist diversity' is quickly, and often silently, equated to 'political diversity' or 'social diversity'. As such, a key weakness of CC scholarship, identified by various authors in this Capital & Class special issue--that it does not provide a satisfactory theoretical understanding of capitalist societies--is a problem that runs deeper than the limitations that can be observed in contemporary debates. The implications of our argument are discussed in the conclusion. Keywords Neo-pluralism, economic sociology, capitalist diversity, comparative capitalisms, capitalism, Introduction The rise of the comparative capitalisms (CC) literatures has been an important development in the debate on capitalist diversity. One of the most significant aspects of this has been [...]

Latin American countries remain uninvolved in varieties of capitalism (VoC). The reasons for the countries' continued isolation is seen as linguistic. VoC experts are seen to offer these countries the opportunity to reconnect with the economic mainstream.

The success of Asian companies has stimulated comparisons of Asian with Western forms of capitalism. But such comparisons represents a realization that there are various ways of organizing market economies. Variations in coordination mechanisms and constraints on opportunism are seen as critical factors in differentiating national differences.

Business historians and social scientists' views of varieties of capitalism are discussed. Social scientists contend that economic structure is determined by the availability of worker skills. Business historians, on the other hand, see manifold possibilities from cultural distinction and microeconomic agency.

The article concludes that Russia poses no unusual risks such as corruption or instability as other BRIC nations (Brazil, Russia, India, and China), but does recommend that, given its state-led capitalism, an understanding of its political dynamics is key. Selecting a business partner that is closely connected to the state is important as well.

This article theorizes and begins to explore the extent to which academic and nonacademic discourses contribute to the reproduction and legitimacy of the economic status quo. The author argues that economic practices in the United States are often depoliticized in at least two different ways: They are naturalized or essentialized conceptually, and political control over them is limited. Drawing on antiessentialist Marxian economic theory, Gramsci's theory of hegemony, and poststructuralist theory, the author constructs a framework for conceptualizing economic practices in a more politicized manner. The author also provides some specific examples of depoliticized discourses and a few examples of more politicized discourses. Keywords: political economy; discourse; capitalism; democracy; Gramsci

The article discusses bootstrap capitalism as a means to mainstream the welfare poor and working poor by offering financial services and capital for community development projects.

The intellectual history of organization studies since 1945, based on the impact of the second world waris examined. The socio-political movements of the twentieth century, the divsion of the Soviet Empire, and the growth of market economies are also discussed.

This article reviews three recent books--one Australian, one European and one American--in order to reflect on the current state of play in economic sociology. Economic sociology is a fast-growing field of research in the US, and to a lesser extent in Europe, but it has barely registered in Australia. This is partly a reflection of the fact that economic sociology draws some of its inspiration from 'new economy' industries that are weak in Australia. It also reflects the influence of the Marxist tradition in Australia, focusing mainly on the state as a countervailing force to markets. The upshot is that the market is both a constant point of reference in sociological research, but also a 'black box' beyond social inquiry. The new economic sociology, in contrast, focuses upon the constitutive role of social institutions in relation to markets. It suggests promising new lines of inquiry in the Australian context. Keywords: capitalism, economic sociology, entrepreneurs, markets, political economy, Australian sociologists have a long-standing interest in the articulation between the economy and society. Their research mostly takes its bearings from political economy and critical theory. Two themes are especially [...]

This article analyzes the sweeping restructuring of the state in Latin America and the consequent institutionalization of a new regulatory order. The analysis is grounded in an original database that covers the creation of regulatory agencies and their reform in nineteen countries and twelve sectors over the period from 1979 to 2002. The authors' data capture both the national and the sectoral patterns of the rise of the new order, and the authors distinguish between (1) national patterns of diffusion, whereby the number of prior regulatory authorities within a country determines the probability of the establishment of new authorities in that country and (2) sectoral patterns of diffusion, whereby the number of prior regulatory authority in the same sector in other countries determines the probability of the establishment of new regulatory authority in that sector. The results coincide with a growing body of literature that emphasizes the role of contagious diffusion and shed some new light on sectoral and national channels of diffusion. Keywords: regulation; regulatory capitalism; Latin America; policy diffusion; liberalization; privatization; regulatory agencies

This article analyzes the rise and diffusion of the new order of regulatory capitalism. It offers an analytical and historical analysis of relations between capitalism and regulation and suggests that change in the governance of capitalist economy is best captured by reference to (1) a new division of labor between state and society (e.g., privatization), (2) an increase in delegation, (3) proliferation of new technologies of regulation, (4) formalization of interinstitutional and intrainstitutional arrangements of regulation, and (5) growth in the influence of experts in general, and of international networks of experts in particular. Regulation, though not necessarily directly by the state, seems to be on the increase despite efforts to redraw the boundaries between state and society. Keywords: regulatory capitalism; regulatory state; contagious diffusion; regulatory explosion

This article examines the possible causes of the Asian Financial crisis during the late 1990s. The authors focus on the role of free market capitalism in the financial distress in Asia, and the potential need for tighter discipline among market particpants or more government control over borrowers and creditors.

This paper offers a reading of the simple Keynesian multiplier through Marx's lenses. The objective is to make explicit, for the Keynesian multiplier, what from a Marxian perspective should be made explicit in any discourse about the capitalist economy, namely the role of the social relations of production. Since within given historical periods social relations are expressed in institutional forms, my analysis also gives some general insights about the basic institutional requirements assumed within the general Keynesian framework, requirements without which the Keynesian multiplier could not be operational. Finally, the paper also briefly outlines some important policy implications by comparing the main tenets of a Keynesian, neoliberal, and radical agenda for employment creation. Keywords: Keynes; Marx; Social relations of production; Capitalist economy; Employment

Nicolai Dmitrievich Kondratiev studied business cycles in the Moscow Conjunture Institute in the 1920s, but Soviet authorities felt his economic theories were not critical enough of capitalism. When his ideas about agricultural development opposed those of the government during the first five-year plan, he was imprisoned. He was imprisoned again when he held a meeting of dissidents in his home. He was executed in 1938.

Good morning, sisters and brothers. I want to begin my presentation with a number: 358. Three hundred fifty-eight people on this planet of ours have a total combined wealth greater [...]