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IAI Actuarial Core Principles · Business Economics · Main economic schools and their key features

Which statement best describes the Marxian view of the relationship between the 'base' and the 'superstructure' in historical materialism?

In historical materialism, the economic base, consisting of the forces and relations of production, largely shapes the superstructure of law, politics, culture and ideology. Causation runs mainly from base to superstructure, not the reverse, and the state is part of the superstructure.

  1. ACulture and ideas independently drive changes in the economic system
  2. BThe economic base, meaning the relations and forces of production, largely shapes legal, political and ideological institutionsCorrect
  3. CLaw and government determine the mode of production
  4. DMarkets automatically align the base and superstructure through prices
  5. The base consists of the state and the superstructure of private firms

Explanation

In historical materialism the economic base (forces and relations of production) conditions the superstructure of law, politics, religion and ideology. Option 0 and 2 reverse the direction of causation, and option 4 misidentifies the base.

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