Bill Lear's question on normal profits is pushing the list in the direction I had been proposing for some time. For the most part, Ian has been alone in showing an inclination similar to my own. Like Paul, I began as an agricultural economist. For us, it is easy to see how commodity markets impoverish producers. Prosperity requires finding refuge from competition. The survival of capitalism depends on this relationship. Intellectual property is perhaps the strongest form of monopoly protection going. Moreover, the powers granted by intellectual property allow enormous leverage through the police system in order to enforce these intellectual property rights. I am convinced that one of the main contributions economists could make at this time would be to further the understanding of the relationship between the powers of the state, the powers of corporations, the powers of imperialism relate to the growth of intellectual property rights. The papers by Bob Naiman and Dean Baker are useful for steps in this direction. It is not surprising that the question of intellectual property rights here arose regarding Africa, the region perhaps least able to defend itself against intellectual property rights. Finally, Fidel Castro has threatened to duplicate Coca-Cola unless the United States begins to recognize Cuba's intellectual property rights. -- Michael Perelman Economics Department California State University Chico, CA 95929 Tel. 530-898-5321 E-Mail [EMAIL PROTECTED]
