B51 - Current Heterodox Approaches: Socialist; Marxian; SraffianReturn

Radovan Richta was a Czech academic, philosopher, sociologist, prognostic, and head of an interdisciplinary research team. He specialised in the issues of the scientific and technological revolution and its social and human contexts. Both in the East and the West, he was famous for the work of Civilization on the Crossroad, which in many ways surpassed its time. Richta (and his team of scientists) may perhaps be considered the predecessors of the Roman Club. His link is highly inspirational for the current reflection on the so-called fourth industrial revolution and civilizational milestones as well as system changes.

J. C. L. S. Sismondi was a Swiss historian, economist and writer. He is often cited as the last representative of the French branch of classical economics and a key author of the small producers type of theories. He left the classical liberal school and switched to economic romanticism. He has been indicated as the first author of systematic reflection on crises in opposition to contemporary conceptions of balance.

O. R. Lange, a Polish economist, statistician, econometrician, sociologist, politician and diplomat was classified as a reformist Marxist. He became famous for studies on planning and socialist economies. Lange demonstrates and proves the possibility of the existence of an effective socialist system. He also analyzed capitalist economy, e.g., the issue of cyclical fluctuations and unemployment.

Robert Owen was a British businessman, thinker, philanthropist, campaigner and reformer, who was looking non-violently for an alternative system. He is said to be a pioneer of socialism in Britain and a leader of the utopian socialist movement in the 19th century. He is also known as a predecessor of the cooperative movement. He tried to start a set of reforms, which were not followed.