Pirgmaier Elke
University of Leeds, Sustainability Research Institute, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.
Ecol Econ. 2021 Jan;179:106790. doi: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2020.106790. Epub 2020 Aug 25.
Value theory forms the bedrock of several economic paradigms. It shapes how economists think about the purpose and functioning of the system as a whole. I identify three approaches to understanding value in economics: the British classical approach, exemplified by Smith and Ricardo, the neoclassical approach based on marginal utility theory, and Marxian value theory. The classical and neoclassical tradition explain exchange value by transhistorical use values. This gives rise to a conception of capitalism as a 'real economy', i.e. a system that produces goods and services for the purpose of satisfying people's needs and wants. Ecological economists adopt and extend the classical and neoclassical view, by predominantly studying a 'real real' economy, i.e. matter-energy stocks and flows and ultimate social outcomes. This allows an ecological critique of the economic process but fails to address underlying social drivers of ecological destruction. Marxian value theory provides a systemic (macro) understanding of value, which results in a realistic conception of capitalism as a monetary market economy. Marx's approach is the only value theory in economics that provides a fundamental critique of capitalism. I advocate a stronger integration of radical political economy and ecological economics to support social change.
价值理论构成了几种经济范式的基石。它塑造了经济学家对整个经济体系的目的和运行方式的思考。我确定了经济学中理解价值的三种方法：以斯密和李嘉图为代表的英国古典方法、基于边际效用理论的新古典方法以及马克思主义价值理论。古典和新古典传统通过超历史的使用价值来解释交换价值。这产生了一种将资本主义视为“实体经济”的概念，即一个为满足人们的需求和欲望而生产商品和服务的体系。生态经济学家采纳并扩展了古典和新古典观点，主要研究“真正的实体经济”，即物质 - 能量存量与流动以及最终的社会结果。这使得能够对经济过程进行生态批判，但未能解决生态破坏的潜在社会驱动因素。马克思主义价值理论提供了一种对价值的系统性（宏观）理解，从而产生了一种将资本主义视为货币市场经济的现实概念。马克思的方法是经济学中唯一对资本主义进行根本批判的价值理论。我主张更紧密地整合激进政治经济学和生态经济学以支持社会变革。
