Henry Charles Carey

Born Dec. 15, 1793, in Philadelphia; died there Oct. 13, 1879. American economist, a representative of vulgar political economy.

Carey was a book publisher from 1814, retiring from the trade in 1835 to devote himself to theoretical and publicistic activity. He defended the interests of the American bourgeoisie and vigorously advocated industrial and agrarian protectionism as a means to fight British competition. Carey believed that political economy should study not the laws of social development but man’s relation with nature. He criticized English classical political economy, especially D. Ricardo, and rejected the labor theory of value. Carey was the founder of the reactionary theory of “harmony of class interests.” K. Marx and F. Engels revealed the lack of scientific substance of Carey’s theoretical views and showed their reactionary intent. N. G. Chernyshevskii presented a comprehensive critique of Carey’s ideas.

Carey’s views enjoyed a certain popularity in the 19th century. Present-day bourgeois political economists are reviving the theory of class harmony, using it in apologetics for the intensified exploitation of the working people by the capitalists.