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By elevating the dictum of the market to the role of the sole criterion of rationality and efficiency, economics denies even all "respectability" to the distinction between essential and non-essential consumption, between productive and unproductive labor, between actual and potential surplus.

— Paul A. Baran The Political Economy Of Growth (1957)

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More quotes by Paul A. Baran

As Hegel well knew, the ascent of reason has never followed a straight line.

The Political Economy Of Growth (1957)

In fact, all the additional knowledge gained by an irrationally constituted society may but enlarge and enhance the powers of death and destruction.

The Political Economy Of Growth (1957)

They lived in abysmal misery, yet they had no prospect of a better tomorrow. They existed under capitalism, yet there was no accumulation of capital.

The Political Economy Of Growth (1957)

If society has a technical need, that helps science forward more than ten universities.

The Political Economy Of Growth (1957)

Indeed, I find it illuminating to consider to what extent our "classical conditions" for economic growth are satisfied in the current, monopolistic phase of capitalism.

The Political Economy Of Growth (1957)

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