Did Karl Marx support a free-market economy?

Answer 1

No. Marx took a very dim view of capitalism and predicted that it would collapse. He did not like the free market or competition.

---Well that's not true at all. First and foremost he was a follower of Adam Smith, and during the German revolution he opposed the communists in favour of turning the totalitarian empire into a liberal capitalist society. He railed against protectionism as it pushed food prices up, which pushed land prices up, which pushed rent up- the landlord wins and the workers lose out. Cheaper food and rent was an important concession for the workers when poverty could be measured in calories in Europe.

He advocated a free market, but he didn't think that liberal capitalism would be the end of society's development. He saw how throughout history new forms of society are created by opposing classes- the institutions of feudalism were created in the struggle between Despots and Nobles, the instutions of capitalism were created in the struggle between Nobles and Bourgeoisie- and the institutions of Socialism would be created in the struggle between Bourgeoisie and Proletariat.

Why hasn't this come about? Here's Lenin's take- We haven't yet completed the free market revolution. Freedom of movement is one of Adam Smith's pillars of "Natural Liberty"- yet supposed Capitalists are often the most vocal in condeming any liberalisation of Immigration. The result is deep inequality between countries- we in the first world benefit from cheaper consumer goods and wages above the natural market rate, while those in the third world suffer depressed wages and so on. Look at the clothes you're wearing, think of the sweatshop they came from, and you'll see what Lenin means.

When the big gulfs are between nations, the antagonisms are going to be between nations. Look at how first-world people think of illegal immigrants, as pests. To Adam Smith they would have been as heroic as the smugglers he wrote about.

So we need a free market. We need the homogenisation that true capitalism would bring. Because when the biggest gulf becomes that between Bourgeoisie and Proletariat, that is where the antagonism will be.

Here's Marx making plain his opinion on the free-market- "Is that to say we are against Free Trade? No, we are for Free Trade, because by Free Trade all economical laws, with their most astounding contradictions, will act upon a larger scale, upon the territory of the whole earth; and because from the uniting of all these contradictions in a single group, where they will stand face to face, will result the struggle which will itself eventuate in the emancipation of the proletariat"

He thought the free-market was a necessary stage in a society's development, but not the end. He didn't think socialism was the end either.

We haven't had that free market society yet- but hell, ancient Egypt lasted a lot longer than the current protectionist form of capitalism has, and with much more stability. We have all the time in the world.Until it ends, of course.

Answer 2

No, Karl Marx did not support a free-market economy. He believed that the capitalist system would inevitably lead to exploitation of the working class and advocated for a socialist system where the means of production are collectively owned by the workers.

Answer 3

Yes Karl Marx did want government involvement with the economy.

Answer 4

no queer