I asked
> 1) how big are the profits of the companies that hold IP compared to those
> that don't?
Michael P. answered:
>1. The most profitable industry -- when you take a large swath -- is the
>pharmaceutical industry. Companies that produce relatively undifferentiated
>commodities are relatively unprofitable.
Okay, but do you have numbers? BTW, is the IP "industry" related to Jamie
Galbraith's K-sector? if so, he presents some of his data in his CREATED
UNEQUAL that suggests that US workers in that sector have had relatively
high wage gains. So maybe some of those workers are capturing some of the
monopoly rents in that sector?
> 2) how does the pricing power of companies that have IP depress real wages
> relative to labor productivity and therefore increase the aggregate rate of
> exploitation (rate or surplus-value)? Are these companies large enough
> compared to the total market to have this effect?
>2. A family has to work more hours to buy a unit of medicine.
What keeps them from earning higher wages so that they can pay for that
medicine? is it the IP-based monopoly or is it the general one-sided class
war that's been prevailing in the US since the 1970s, along with increased
insecurity?
> 3) have we reached the stage of the discussion where it's best to agree to
> disagree?
>3. No. I don't know about you, but I am still learning.
it's up to you.
>Do I have to give you a stamped, self-addressed envelope to find out my score?
I don't grade my friends or their ideas. In fact, I don't grade unless I'm
paid to do so.
Jim Devine [EMAIL PROTECTED] & http://bellarmine.lmu.edu/~jdevine
["clawww" or "liberalarts" can replace "bellarmine"]
