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Nearer to Straffa than Marx: Adam Smith on productive and unproductive labour

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  • Roy Grieve

    (Department of Economics)

Abstract
We investigate Adam Smith’s analysis of the properties of what he called “productive†- as against “unproductive†- labour, a concept which commentators have frequently found problematic. Puzzles have been noted and inconsistency alleged. A question arises – did Smith confuse two different concepts of productive labour? We believe that, despite the apparent problems, a coherent reading of Smith’s account of productive and unproductive labour is in fact possible: if “productive labour†is understood to refer comprehensively to labour which not only maintains but, through producing a net surplus, adds to the community’s stock of wealth – as regards either the financial or the real resources which make possible economic growth – the difficulties with Smith’s treatment largely disappear.

Suggested Citation

  • Roy Grieve, 2013. "Nearer to Straffa than Marx: Adam Smith on productive and unproductive labour," Working Papers 1304, University of Strathclyde Business School, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:str:wpaper:1304
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Gough, Ian, 1972. "Marx's theory of productive and unproductive labour," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 51144, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Productive/unproductive labour; basic/non-basic goods; surplus production;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • B12 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought through 1925 - - - Classical (includes Adam Smith)
    • E11 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - General Aggregative Models - - - Marxian; Sraffian; Kaleckian
    • O11 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Macroeconomic Analyses of Economic Development

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