A Unified Theory of Rent, Elite Feud, and Imperial Expansion

Abstract

This chapter presents the theoretical framework. The framework addresses two fundamental questions in economic sciences. What factors explain the divergence in living standards across countries and what ensures internal and external stability of the capitalist economic system? The framework adopts a non-technical and unified approach. Using the neoclassical growth model, it shows that economic growth is dependent on access to raw materials, labour, capital, technology, and perhaps most importantly ‘economies of scale’. Then it modifies the neoclassical growth model by introducing power relations (both internal and external to a nation), which ensures scale economies through guaranteed access to markets and raw materials. Thus, imperial expansion is a natural consequence of the capitalist economic system. The stability of the system depends on growth and distribution and it is not possible to have one without the other. However, the quest for growth and imperial expansion implies one empire invariably enters into conflict with another empire. Such inherent tension in the capitalist system can be best managed by acknowledging great power spheres of influence.