The ongoing economic crisis has revealed fundamental problems both in our economic system and the discipline which analyses it. This book presents a series of contrasting but complementary approaches in economic theory in order to offer a critical toolkit for examining the modern capitalist economy.

List of Figures, List of Tables, List of Contributors, Foreword. Robert SkidelskyIntroduction: escaping from the economics cave. Tommaso Gabellini and Simone Gasperin, PART I Alternative methodologies, Chapter 1. Critical dilemmas in the methodology of economics facing the crisis, Alessio Moneta, Chapter 2. "Anti-Blanchard": a comparative technique for macroeconomics, Emiliano Brancaccio and Domenico Suppa, PART II Alternative theories, Chapter 3. The originalitry of the Italian debate on Marx, Riccardo Bellofiore and Tommaso Redolfi Riva, Chapter 4. What Capital Theory can teach us, Fabio Petri, Chapter 5. The modern revival of the Classical surplus approach: implications for the analysis of growth and crises, Sergio Cesaratto, Chapter 6. A Marx 'crises' model. The reproduction schemes revisited, Marco Veronese Passarella, Chapter 7. High wages and economic growth in a Kaldorian theoretical framework, Guglielmo Forges Davanzati, Chapter 8. Financial crises and sustainability: competing paradigms and policy implications, Alessandro Vercelli, Chapter 9. Finance is not the dark side of the force, Anna Maria Grazia Variato, PART III Alternative analyses and policies, Chapter 10. Technological and productive systems facing the economic crisis: heterogeneity, convergence and divergence in the European Union, Andrea Califano, Tommaso Gabellini and Simone Gasperin, Chapter 11. Reshaping the economy. An industrial and investment policy for Europe, Mario Pianta, Matteo Lucchese and Leopoldo Nascia, Index