Capitalism and Its Critics: A History

Capitalism is the economic system that shapes virtually every aspect of modern life — and it has also generated, throughout its history, some of the most searching and important criticism of that system. DK’s Capitalism and Its Critics: A History tells the complete story of both: the development of capitalist economics from its theoretical foundations in Adam Smith through the industrial revolution, the rise of global finance, and the crises and debates of the present day, alongside the full tradition of critique — from Marx and Engels through Keynes, Polanyi, and the contemporary economists challenging the orthodoxies of our own era.

Using DK’s distinctive visual approach — timelines, diagrams, key quotations, and biographical profiles alongside clear analytical text — it makes the ideas accessible without simplifying them. Both defenders and critics of capitalism receive fair, rigorous treatment.

An indispensable guide to understanding the economic system we all live inside — and the arguments about whether and how it should change. Published by DK.