John Keynes and Karl Marx are two of the most influential and notorious economists of our time. Their views on the economy are very different. Marx was a radical communist while Keynes was a Capitalist and a brilliant intellectual. Their views stem from their upbringing. Marx was born into a Jewish, middle class family and Keynes was born into a comfortable English social class that considered itself born to rule. Their writings brought their beliefs about the economy lead them into the public eye. Marx wrote the "Communist Manifesto" and "Das Kapital". Both writings sought social upheaval and attacked the capitalist system. Keynes" writings include "The Economic Consequences of the Peace" and "The General Theory" which revolutionised the way the world thinks about economic problems. Marx and Keynes" views were and remain widely acknowledged through their writings to economists throughout the world. .
John Keynes thought there was no necessity for public or government ownership. Instead, he believed that government action was essential rather than ownership. Rather than government ownership, Keynes supported private ownership of the means of production. Karl Marx identified private productive property as the real source of evil. He believed that possession of economic resources gave power to the owners who then oppressed the workers, who have only their labour to sell. He believed that ownership of capital forces human beings into unequal relationships as capitalists and labourers. Marx concluded that envy, greed and personal ego are direct outcomes of private property. .
Keynes dwelt on the overall economy rather than individual markets. He did not direct his attention to what should be produced and how, but did speculate about the possibility that relative scarcity would cease to be a problem. Keynes considered that one day the world would be free from its fixation with want. Marx was far more candid on this issue of resource allocation.
