At a time of such economic distress, when it sometimes feels like the world as we know it is coming to an end, it It's hard not to examine and question the fundamental idea of ​​capitalism. Many people are beginning to wonder if our laissez-faire attitude toward the economy can continue to bear fruit or if a major change in our society is imminent. When searching for answers to these questions, it is impossible not to think of the economist Karl Marx, who devoted most of his career to analyzing capitalism. Marx long ago predicted what he saw as the inevitable downfall of capitalist society and outlined his reasoning in his infamous Communist Manifesto. According to Marx, capitalism is doomed to collapse due to its inherent internal contradictions: overproduction, concentration of capital and the intelligent working class (Marx 1983: 210-214). Interestingly, in examining current events, examples of these capitalist contradictions abound. By looking at modern situations through a Marxist lens, we are better able to understand the circumstances society finds itself in today, and to predict and prepare for the future. The first contradiction of capitalism that Marx talks about in his manifesto is the problem of overproduction. Marx explains: In these crises epidemics break out which in all previous ages would have seemed an absurdity – the epidemic of overproduction…[T]here there is too much civilization, too many means of subsistence, too much industry, too many industries. trade. The productive forces available to society no longer tend to favor the development of working conditions...... middle of paper ...... fail according to Marx, and technological progress occurs more rapidly every day, creating new avenues for unowned workers to explore. The answer to the burning question of what will happen to our economy may well be the conclusion of capitalism. Works Cited Marx, Karl 1983 [1848] Manifesto of the Communist Party. In The Karl Marx Laptop. Eugene Kamenka, ed. New York: Viking Penguin. Pp. 203-217.MorrisonGlossary of concepts. In Formations of Modern Social Thought. Pp. 308-347.Pristin, TerryVacancies in 2009 increase risks and reduce real estate values. New York Times, September 15. Stelter, Brian 2009. Kanye West Vs. Taylor Swift? Try YouTube Users vs. Viacom. New York Times, September 14. Stone, Brad 2009. Will Amazon become the Wal-Mart of the Web? New York Times, September 19.