The Great Transformation

Karl Polanyi examines the development of capitalism and argues that markets are not natural or self-contained, but shaped by social and political institutions. His account focuses on the upheavals associated with the rise of industrial society and the effects of unregulated markets on human life.

Written as a major work of social and economic criticism, the book explores the relationship between the economy, civil society, and social dislocation. It remains a widely discussed text for readers interested in economic history, political economy, and the roots of modern capitalism.