Advantages and disadvantages of recessions

[Chris Burford <cburford@xxxxxxxxxx>]

At 13:58 27/03/01 -1000, Steve Philion wrote:
> Also, it's generally the case that bad times bring with them things like
> unemployment increases, which tend to make it even less likely that labor
> will organize, for the obvious reasons.

Yes, the economic bargaining position of labor is at its peak at the peak
of the capitalist cycle. Once a significant proportion of the means of
production have been destroyed, and the reserve army swollen, then the
economic bargaining position of labor is much weaker.

Politically the credibility of capitalism is weaker in a recession. However
this can only be taken advantage of, if the left is not afraid to try to
seize some reforms, but also has a sophisticated analysis of which reforms
will ultimately weaken Capital rather than prop it up.

The distinction can be subtle. Dogmatism has little to contribute on this
question.

Chris Burford

London