This book was initially prepared in the early 1970s from courses given by Ben Fine at Birkbeck College, University of London, on ‘Marxist Economics’ and ‘The Distribution of Income and Wealth’. Thanks to those who taught and attended those courses. Bob Rae and Simon Mohun read earlier versions of the first edition, Harald Minken read the fourth edition, and Greg Albo read in detail the fourth and fifth editions. They have made many suggestions which we have incorporated. Many others – especially students from several continents over the decades this book has been in print – have contributed to the improvement of successive editions. We are also indebted to the many colleagues, too numerous to list, who have commented usefully on the text.
We are grateful to everyone at Pluto Press for their support in the relaunch of Marx’s Capital and in particular to Anne Beech and Anthony Winder for their contributions to the publication of this new edition.