Graziani’s circuit scheme. A methodological exploration

In the following paper, we shall focus on the Italian branch of the monetary circuit (or monetary theory of production). In particular, we shall attempt a methodical exploration of the theoretical production of the one who may rightly be considered the founding father of this branch: Augusto Graziani. We shall do this along three lines. Firstly, in the wake of Lunghini and Bianchi (2003), we shall argue that that of Graziani, far from being a complete model, is presented as a historically “open” scheme, which therefore needs “closure”. Secondly, we shall argue that this scheme should be considered as a logical, not historical, re-construction of the functioning of the capitalist economy. Finally, we shall illustrate how such a scheme stands at the highest possible level of abstraction.