Critical Considerations on Alexander V. Chayanov ´s model

Abstract

This paper presents a review of the work of the Russian economist Alexander V. Chayanov and its critic. The purpose is to analyze Peasant farm organization [1924] taking into account the author ´s intentions and the book ´s architecture as well as the critic of its past and present readers. Starting from methodological aspects, an analysis of both the basic theoretical model and its real functioning is proposed. It ´s understood that the isolation of peasantries from the society of which they form part answers to the method used by the author to build a pure conceptual model. Nevertheless the work cannot be reduced to that only purpose. As it is a practical theory Chayanov seeks to prove the real working of his model leaving aside the initial assumptions to insert the peasants within the wider framework of the market economy. By doing so he introduces absent elements in his initial simplification such as market environment, wages and capital investment requirements. The analysis is intended to prove that the methodological tools the author uses to build his theory undermine its explanatory power. Finally a reflection is proposed on the virtues and limitations of his work from an historical perspective