Re: [OPE-L] Where does the money come from?

[Gerald_A_Levy@xxxxxxx]

> . So the question remains: how the development of the credit system
> regulates the pace of gold production?

Hi again Paolo:

Well, of course, credit can help to finance exploration for gold,
mining costs,  and new technologies for gold production, but that
doesn't take note of the issue that Paul mentioned earlier in this
thread:  the role of  (to paraphrase) good fortune and historical
accident in gold production.  On that point, it's worthwhile
noting that historically much of the gold that was mined under
capitalism was not mined by capitalist firms but by small producers.
This was especially true, in the 19th Century,  when new areas
which were gold-rich were discovered.

In solidarity, Jerry


PS: Even today, in Latin America -- including Brazil?
-- there is panhandling for gold by self-employed informal sector
people.  Of course, that's not where the bulk of gold is mined
today but it does raise an interesting issue re rent:  do the mining
condition in the least productive area govern the exchange value
of gold?  Taken quite literally, that would suggest that those
poor informal sector miners determine the price of gold on
world markets.  But, that -- of course -- is absurd.