'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.