Re: Re: Global unequal exchange

[Michael Perelman <michael@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

We have been through this before, but please do not try to characterize
other list memgers -- they can do that for themselves -- or demand that
they answer a question that you pose.

On Fri, Jun 07, 2002 at 08:00:04AM +0100, Chris Burford wrote:
> At 06/06/02 08:49 -0400, Proyect wrote:
> >Burford:
> > > But I wanted to ask whether others agree with the statement above. It
> > >appears self evident if there is mobility of information and transport of
> > >commodities across a market. But in a deeper marxist sense is it consistent
> > >with the law of value?
> >
> >Of course it is consistent with the law of value. How can it not be?
>
> I posted my question, which Proyect did not quote, to elicit deeper
> discussion of how inequality and exploitation actually works. A lot of
> people do not believe in the law of value, or call it the labour theory of
> value. Groups for radical global reform have an eclectic list of measures
> to mitigate the intensifying global inequality. I am disappointed that
> Proyect appears in this statement to treat the law of value as a dogma, and
> implies a reproof that all right minded marxists should of course agree
> with the LOV. In my opinion that damages the practical relevance of marxism
> and divides marxists from non-marxists.
>
> I raised other questions about the meaning of the formulation I quoted
> which Proyect does not discuss (instead emphasising that the wider article
> from which I quoted is in favour of the imperialist integration of Europe)
>
> In particular I recall that Marx on one occasion argued that the value of a
> commodity relates to the *average* means of production for it in the
> market. The formula I quoted however implies the most competitive areas
> determining prices. There is nowadays an enormous gap between the two. Does
> that matter? How is that analysed from a marxist point of view, and how
> much does it contribute to imperialist superprofits?
>
>
> Chris Burford
>

--
Michael Perelman
Economics Department
California State University
Chico, CA 95929

Tel. 530-898-5321
E-Mail michael@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx