“RENTIERISM” – Usage by Marxists
In the early works of Karl Marx the term “rentier” was used juxtaposed to a “capitalist” to show that a rentier essentially uses up all of his profit, whereas a capitalist is forced to invest most of the surplus value to survive competition. He wrote, “Therefore, the means of the extravagant rentier diminish daily in inverse proportion to the growing possibilities and temptations of pleasure. He must, therefore, either consume his capital himself, and in so doing bring about his own ruin, or become an industrial capitalist….” [9]
(MESOP 21.12.2013)