I have never denied the effect of the weakening of labor. I am merely stating that
IP represents an additional force, which is becoming stronger, just as capital may
have pushed labor down in the US as far as it can go -- the last thought is a
speculation, not even a firm belief.
Doug Henwood wrote:
> Michael Perelman wrote:
>
> >Let me start out by saying that I have no doubt that intellectual property
> >increases surplus value, just as if the entire economy consisted of
> >a region, such
> >as San Francisco, which experienced a rapid increase in rents, surplus value
> >increased relative to what goes to labor.
> >
> >Doug asks for proof. I cannot give it. To begin with, Doug has a much better
> >command of data than I do. To make matters worse, data is not
> >collected about such
> >matters.
>
> Michael, I don't understand how you can be sure of something you not
> only can't prove, but for which you can't offer much nonconclusive
> evidence. Why you so convinced? Are you pushing the IP analysis as an
> antidote to something else? Given the unambiguous weakening of labor
> over the last 25 years, you almost don't need any other explanations
> for the increase in the US profit rate.
>
> Doug
--
Michael Perelman
Economics Department
California State University
Chico, CA 95929
Tel. 530-898-5321
E-Mail [EMAIL PROTECTED]
