Exploring Michal Kalecki’s Influence on Capitalism and Structuralism

The Graduate Division of UNAM’s Faculty of Economics hosted the international conference Financing Economic Development and Growth Constraints: 70 Years of Michal Kalecki’s Influence on Structuralism.

In the opening session, speakers emphasized the urgent need to advance economic thought—its theoretical foundations and analytical tools—in a global context marked by the decline of neoliberalism, a deepening crisis, and a stalled transition still searching for a clear direction.

Lorena Rodríguez León, Director of the Faculty of Economics, underscored the ongoing relevance of Michal Kalecki’s work. The renowned Polish economist remains one of the most influential thinkers of the twentieth century, and, as Rodríguez León noted, his ideas are particularly timely in today’s complex and uncertain landscape.

Held from March 25 to 27, the conference brought together a wide range of speakers and actively involved students in examining seven decades of Kalecki’s impact on structuralist economic thought. Rodríguez León further emphasized Latin America’s essential role in addressing these issues and in articulating alternative futures.

She further noted the special significance of the conference’s organization, which was led by students—some in postdoctoral programs, others just beginning their academic careers as professors—adding a unique and meaningful dimension to the event.