The theory of internal goods in nineteenth-century Russian classical economic thought

Abstract

The article deals with the development and reception of the so-called theory of internal goods, which is to be considered as one of the most fascinating contributions of Russian intellectual history to economic thought. The theory of internal goods investigates the connections between cultural and economic development. It clearly reflects the question of how Russia could overcome her economic and cultural backwardness compared to Western Europe. Although the representatives of the concept have failed to keep their promise to deliver an economic theory of civilization, they raised questions that to the present day have lost none of their actuality.