Pasinetti’s Structural Change and Economic Growth: a conceptual excursus

A clear and organic exposition of Pasinetti’s theoretical framework of Structural Change and Economic Growth is often complicated by misunderstandings and ambiguities concerning the basic categories and terminology. The pre-institutional character of the approach, the nature of its equilibrium paths and the significance of the ‘natural’ economic system — together with its normative character — are some of the most controversial issues. In particular, there seems to be a need for a clearcut distinction between the general dynamic analysis of the price and quantity systems and the specific dynamics they follow when the sectoral proportions and levels of production exactly satisfy dynamic equilibrium conditions, and a particular closure of the price system is adopted, providing for specific functional income distribution and theory of value. The aim of the present paper is therefore that of attempting at a conceptual excursus of the model, in order to establish a solid ground on the basis of which discussions with other Classical approaches can be fruitfully held.