The book emphasizes the significance of historical theories in comprehending the complexities of the modern international economy. By adopting a pluralistic approach, it presents a balanced view of both orthodox and heterodox international economic theories, allowing readers to appreciate the diverse perspectives that shape current economic understanding.
Peter M. Lichtenstein believes that any social-economic theory of capitalism must begin with a theory of value and price. Dismissing the neoclassical school, he turns to post-Keynesian and Marxian economics with their coherent and consistent theories of value and price based on concrete objective circumstances. The development of these theories in the author's aim because he believes that this approach comes much closer than neoclassical theory to capturing the essence of a capitalism economy. This book, first published in 1983, is addressed to economics students, especially to those studying microeconomics or the history of economic thought, and to economists seeking an overview of these issues.