----------------- HES POSTING ----------------- Proposed answers to these three questions: 1. Marx's definition of "capitalism" can be first found in Sismondi (what is mentioned by Marx in "Zur Kritik" and in Kapital's first book). As in Marx, Sismondi's definition is somewhat confused with the one of modern industrial era. 2. As a scientific meaning, "Free market economy" can be attributed first to Leon Walras (Elements d'Economie Politique Pure, 1874 then 1902) who was a "socialist". In popular language, as long as France is concerned, "market economy" seems to have been introduced during the seventies, in order to confront the Gaullian planified economy and social order and to get rid of them. 2. In my opinion, there is definitely a shift of connotation, in the western world, between "free market economy", which was a classic theoretical Newton-wise approach (instantaneity of interactions), and "market economy", which has become an ideological euphemism actually referring to an endless trending overproduction or overcapacity of production. The function of it being one of imputing the downsizings to a permanent and "natural" competition, and not to budgetary and monetary restrictions that are aiming to "fight inflation". Best regards Romain Kroës ------------ FOOTER TO HES POSTING ------------ For information, send the message "info HES" to [log in to unmask]