Periodizations of capitalism

A periodization of capitalism seeks to distinguish stages of development that help understanding of features of capitalism through time. The best-known periodizations that have been proposed distinguish these stages as:


 * 1) Early / monopoly / state monopoly capitalism (Sweezy)
 * 2) Free trade / monopoly / finance capitalism (Hilferding)
 * 3) Early capitalism (primitive accumulation) / colonialism / imperialism (Hobson, Lenin, Bukharin)
 * 4) Extensive stage / intensive stage / late capitalism (Aglietta)

The Marxist periodization of capitalism into the stages: agricultural capitalism, merchant capitalism, industrial capitalism and state capitalism.

Another periodization includes merchant capitalism, industrial and finance capitalism, and global capitalism.