Keynesian Economics (Socialism) (2024)

In stark contrast to concepts such as class consciousness, historical materialism and the dialectic, Keynesian economics is associated with the moderate strand of socialist thought. Social democrats seek to implement an economic strategy shaped by the thoughts of John Maynard Keynes.

Although Keynes was a liberal, his arguments in favour of state intervention can also be applied to those on the centre-left of the political spectrum. It is also worth noting that Keynesian economics was very much in vogue during the cross-party consensus of the post-war era, and have experienced something of a revival in the aftermath of the credit crunch.

Keynesianism is based upon the assumption that the government should intervene within the economy to mitigate the problems of market failure. In the context of socialism, Keynesian economics can be used to implement policies associated with equality and social justice. Keynesianism is also consistent with the social democratic position upon the view that ‘the man in Whitehall knows best.’ Keynesian thereby provides an intellectual challenge to laissez-faire economics. Moreover, Keynesian economics entails a firm rejection of the planned economy advocated by Marxists.

Keynesianism is at heart a philosophy which favours a mixed economy with a role for both the public and private sector. It rejects the unregulated free-market approach associated with those on the libertarian-right of the political spectrum, and the far-left stance in which the state allocates resources. Indeed, Keynes wanted to uphold capitalism and prevent a drift towards a planned system based on common ownership. Keynesianism thereby offers a half-way between these two alternatives. Not surprisingly, such ideas become conventional wisdom amongst social democrats within the Labour movement.

Keynesian Economics (Socialism) (2024)

FAQs

Keynesian Economics (Socialism)? ›

Keynesianism is based upon the assumption that the government should intervene within the economy to mitigate the problems of market failure. In the context of socialism, Keynesian economics can be used to implement policies associated with equality and social justice.

What did Keynes say about socialism? ›

In September 1932, he advocated “a large measure of control over the volume of new investment” (CW 21, 130). Importantly, Keynes conceived socialism as government control over investment: “The chief problem would be to maintain the level of investment at a high enough rate to ensure the optimum level of employment….

What is the difference between socialism and Keynesianism? ›

Socialism is a system of ownership and economic activity. Keynesian economics is a set of theories of how economic systems work. They are in different categories. socialism is more about govt control of business.

Does Keynesian economics support capitalism? ›

Keynes viewed that capitalism's strengths could be utilized alongside the controlling of its volatile tendencies, with Keynes wanting to simultaneously assist the working class by rising their wages and the maintaining of full-employment while also allowing for the rise in profits for firms.

Is Keynesian economics Marxist? ›

While he was no Marxist, our third economist, John Maynard Keynes, was highly influential in confronting the dilemmas of capitalism in the early 20th century.

Which economist believed in socialism? ›

The Birth of Socialist Planning

It is often thought that the idea of socialism derives from the work of Karl Marx.

What type of economy did Keynes believe in? ›

Keynesian economists generally advocate a regulated market economy – predominantly private sector, but with an active role for government intervention during recessions and depressions.

What did Keynes think of Marx? ›

Keynes did not study Marx, and he did not feel the need for doing so because he identified Marx's theories with those of the classicists. By opposing the classical theory Keynes thought he was opposing Marx as well.

Why would politicians oppose Keynesian economics? ›

To create jobs and boost consumer buying power during a recession, Keynes held that governments should increase spending, even if it means going into debt. Critics attack Keynesian economics for promoting deficit spending, stifling private investment, and causing inflation.

What are the two main ideas of Keynesian economics? ›

Keynesian economics is based on two main ideas. First, aggregate demand is more likely than aggregate supply to be the primary cause of a short-run economic event like a recession. Second, wages and prices can be sticky, and so, in an economic downturn, unemployment can result.

What is Keynesian economics in simple terms? ›

Keynesians believe that, because prices are somewhat rigid, fluctuations in any component of spending—consumption, investment, or government expenditures—cause output to change. If government spending increases, for example, and all other spending components remain constant, then output will increase.

Was John Maynard Keynes against capitalism? ›

He argued that if capitalism were managed domestically and internationally (with coordinated international Keynesian policies, an international monetary system that did not pit the interests of countries against one another, and a high degree of freedom of trade), then this system of managed capitalism could promote ...

Do liberals support Keynesian economics? ›

Who is mainly in Favor of Keynesian Economics? Keynesian economics are largely attributed to Liberals, some Conservatives do inadvertently support Keynesian economics by supporting low taxes to stimulate the economy.

Was Hayek a Keynesian? ›

Most economists believe that Keynes's General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money (1936) won the war. Hayek, until his dying day, never believed that, and neither do other members of the Austrian school.

What is the main argument of Keynesian economists? ›

The central belief of Keynesian economics is that government intervention can stabilize the economy. Keynes' theory was the first to sharply separate the study of economic behavior and individual incentives from the study of broad aggregate variables and constructs.

Who was against Keynesian economics? ›

Friedman and other allies continued to work as economists, though initially they only had marginal influence on the discipline as a whole. According to Professor Keith Shaw an important early milestone in Friedman's campaign against Keynesianism was the 1956 publication of Studies in the Quantity Theory of Money.

What idea did Keynes reject? ›

Keynes rejected the idea that the economy would return to a natural state of equilibrium.

What is keynesianism social policy? ›

Keynesianism is based upon the assumption that the government should intervene within the economy to mitigate the problems of market failure. In the context of socialism, Keynesian economics can be used to implement policies associated with equality and social justice.

What was the main idea in Keynes theory? ›

The main plank of Keynes's theory, which has come to bear his name, is the assertion that aggregate demand—measured as the sum of spending by households, businesses, and the government—is the most important driving force in an economy.

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