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I received several good responses to my request for material on  
Maurice Dobb's understanding of capitalism. Here are the responses I  
received, collected in one message. Thanks to all who helped.   
 
Ross Emmett 
 
++++++ 
 
The best articulation that I know of Dobb's understanding of capitalism  
is "Studies in the Development of Capitalism."   
 
This book spurred a very interesting debate primarily amongst marxian  
scholars, such as Sweezy, Rodney Hilton, Christopher Hill, and Eric  
Hobsbawm. This exchange is conveniently reprinted in R.H. Hilton's "  
The Transition from Feudalism to Capitalism." (Verso. It can be found  
on abebooks.com)   
 
Carl Wennerlind 
 
++++++++ 
 
Specifically on Dobb's concept of capitalism, I think a good point to  
start would be the collection of papers published as "Capitalism,  
Development and Planning" which was published by International  
Publishers in 1966. This contains his Bologna Lectures on 'Problems in  
the History of Capitalism', for example.    
 
The following is a treatise, rather than a collection of essays: 
 
Political Economy and Capitalism: some essays in economic tradition;  
Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1937, second edition 1942 (reprinted  
several times, at least till 1972 as far as I know).   
 
"Studies in the Development of Capitalism" is another starter. I don't  
have the date and publisher to hand. As I remember it, it's more about  
development than capitalism as such.   
 
Alan Freeman 
 
+++++++++++++ 
 
Dobb's most elaborate statement on his perspective (I think) is found in  
"Studies in the Development of Capitalism," 1947 (Revised ed., 1963).  
This touched off a long debate, and many of the seminal contributions  
to this debate can be found in a collection edited by Rodney Hilton --  
"The Transition from Feudalism to Capitalism," 1978. There are many  
other writings of interest (including one or more in the Encyclopedia of  
the Social Sciences), but the above are certainly the place to start.   
 
John Henry 
 
+++++ 
 
I'd recommend Dobb's Political Economy & Capitalism: Some Essays  
in Economic Tradition (Greenwood Press, 1972, c1945). Also,  
Socialism, Capitalism, and Economic Growth: Essays Presented to  
Maurice Dobb, edited by C.H. Feinstein (Cambridge University Press,  
1967), includes a bibliography of Dobb's work.   
 
J. Sklansky 
 
+++++ 
 
Probably the most succinct statement of Dobb's view on capitalism  
may be found in the first chapter of his book on POLITICAL  
ECONOMY AND CAPITALISM.   
 
Michael A. Bernstein 
 
++++ 
 
References on Maurice Dobb on Capitalism   
 
The first chapter of Dobb's 'Studies in the Development of Capitalism'  
(Routledge 1946, revised edition 1963) is titled 'Capitalism' and  
discusses various definitions. It has a historical slant. The title of his  
'Capitalism Yesterday and Today' (Lawrence and Wishart 1958)  
suggests that it might be worth a look but I don't know it. On the other  
hand, his 'Political Economy and Capitalism' (Routledge 1937, revised  
1940) doesn't seem to have any straightforward discussion of definition  
despite its title.   
 
Tony Brewer   
 
 
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