This work was written in 1897.
Lenin highlights the inevitable nature of economic crises in capitalism as a result of capitalist development and the intensification of accompanying contradictions.

Lenin responds to his contemporaries who reproduced the theoretical analyses of J. Sismondi (1773-1842). Sismondi recognized the hardships of capitalism and argued that underconsumption is what brings about crises, while he proposed a return to earlier forms of production organization on a smaller scale as a solution. At the same time, he advocated for income redistribution as a means to avoid crisis and reduce the poverty of workers. Lenin emphasizes the utopian character of the desire to regulate the capitalist economy in a way that would bring prosperity to workers and longevity to the capitalist mode of production - he highlights the necessity of a radical overthrow.

Reading this work reveals how ancient the corresponding economic views are that are now being launched as new thinking. Thus, this work is not only a reflection of a historical economic debate but also a useful tool for approaching
the contemporary economic discussion.