[PEN-L:27384] Re: Re: LTV and income disparity

["Ulhas Joglekar" <joglekarulhas@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Chris Burford :

>Could he illustrate what generalities he takes
> for granted and how he uses them in analysis?

I see Indian state as a properly constituted bourgeois state, with
bourgeoisie
and workers as the most important classes. Indian nation-state is free and
independent. I take these generalities for granted.

> But there is data on the progressively worsening terms of trade for
primary
> producers.

Asian nations (oil producers excepted) largely export manufactured goods.
Have terms of trade for manufactured goods worsened in the last few years?
Even if they have worsened, what is their impact on the national income?
Foreign trade is about 20% of India's GDP, large segments of Indian
capitalism are not impacted by foreign trade. Exports are about 10% of the
total annual sales of Indian corporates.
India's annual foreign trade is about $90-100 bn. China's foreign trade is
about $500 bn. Obviously China contributes more to global super profits than
India does.

> More broadly let me refer to the sweeping generalisation that the
disparity
> in wages for a worker across the world is now of the order of 30.

There is no doubt about disparity is wages accross the world. I thought the
argument was that this disparity has widened in 1990s.

> does Ulhas believe
> that Africa should be able to make do with the small package that has been
> agreed or does it need a package of the order of 10 times this amount?
> Stuff has been published to support both propositions. It is not without
> empirical evidence to think Africa needs 10 times as much.

I don't know much about Africa, but I would very happy if Africa gets 100 or
500 times the sum on offer from the developed world ! We don't need to do
meticulous book keeping !

> Does Ulhas accept that there is great income disparity in the world.

Yes, I do !

> If so
> what is his sweeping or non-sweeping generalisation to explain it?

Uneven and combined development of capitalism.

Ulhas