Unholy Trinity: Labor, Capital and Land in the New Economy

by Duncan K. Foley

Many of the central results of Classical and Marxian political economy are examples of the self-organization of the capitalist economy as a complex, adaptive system far from equilibrium.
An Unholy Trinity explores the relations between contemporary complex systems theory and classical political economy, and applies the methods it develops to the problems of induced technical change and income distribution in capitalist economies, the control of environmental externalities such as global warming and the stabilization of the world population.
The arguments and methods of this important book address central problems both of economic science and economic policy and provide fresh paths for theoretical exploration.

112 pages, Hardcover

First published March 27, 2003

About the author

Duncan K. Foley is an American economist. He is the Leo Model Professor of Economics at the New School for Social Research and an External Professor at the Santa Fe Institute. Previously, he was Associate Professor of Economics at MIT and Stanford, and Professor of Economics at Columbia University.

Reviews

[May Ling]

I gave it a 4 because I think what it is attempting to do is reintroduce the ability to use math in Political Science. The other thing it does that is rather noteworthy is it re-links economic thought to politics via math. I dig this, as these all got blasted apart as a function of the cold war.

I agree with Foley in that the Socio-Political-Economic environment is incredibly chaotic and must be described in this manner. However, I think he misses the meat to get an additional star. I'm not sure who the intended consumption of this book is. I also don't think his examples are fleshed out quite enough.