Roots of the theory of Austrian exploration and criticism: from Sismondi to Böhm-Bawerk

Abstract

In this paper we seek to analyse the roots that gave rise to the Marxist theory of exploitation. Without a doubt, the claim that the working class does not receive the full value added in its production has been one of the great workhorses used by the socialist reformers. However, we will see that this idea was not forged at a specific moment, but through a long process of time that had its culmination during the labour movement of the second half of the s. XIX. Thus, we will conclude that Marx found the theory perfectly defined and that he only limited himself to adding the dialectical confrontation between social classes to support his social reform. Finally, we will add the Austrian criticism, especially by Böhm-Bawerk, to this theory of exploitation. To do this, we will use a methodology based on the commentary on the original texts of the consulted sources.