Economic surplus and privileged classes in Argentina

Abstract

In this paper we propose an examination of the macro dynamics of Argentine capitalism in the period 2004-2021 from the perspective of the economic surplus. The object of the text is to investigate the logic of behavior of social classes and its effects around the processes of generation, appropriation and allocation of surplus-product. The work highlights the persistence of the regressive character of the management of the surplus by the privileged classes during the stage in question and the consequent distributive conflicts and stagnation associated with this phenomenon. The research consists of a methodological review of the ways of measuring the economic surplus based on the official statistical system and an empirical examination of the different moments of the surplus based on secondary data sources for the reference period, as well as a comparative inquiry of the use of the surplus in Argentina in the global context.