Re: Sowell's "right turn"
Carol Cox wrote: Laurence Shute wrote: > >It > looks like he made his right turn around then. > An interesting ambiguity. "Right turn" means "turn to the right" or the "right turn to make." :-) Sorry, just hasty writing; no ambiguity or talmudic questioning intended. :-) Sowell is a bright guy and it was a shame to see him change his political views from left-wing to right-wing. I don't recall how long he's been at the Hoover Institution, or what he gets paid. But to have the time and money to go through some of their archives and not do it is a real waste. The archives contain a lot of material on Trotsky, as well as the origins and development of the Sparticist League, for instance. http://www.oac.cdlib.org/institutions/ark:/13030/tf4m3nb8sq Larry Shute
Re: Thomas Sowell
Michael Perelman wrote: Some of Sowell's early stuff on Say's law was pretty good. Then he became more of a right wing hack. Reagan tried to get him to be Sec. of Education. Now his most appears as a syndicated right wing ideologue. Jim's critique was excellent. I agree with both: Jim's analysis of Sowell's article was great. And some of Sowell's early stuff was quite good. For example, "Marx's 'Increasing Misery' Doctrine," American Economic Review, March 1960, pp. 111-120. I think I recall that Sowell had trouble finding a job. Wasn't he teaching at Cornell for a while, then out of work? It looks like he made his right turn around then. Larry Shute Economics Cal Poly Pomona
Re: Lenin in his tomb
Chris Doss wrote: I wish they would follow his wishes. he wanted to be buried or cremated, I forget which. I doubt that anyone wants to be put on permanent display... jd --- It's a political decision. It was outrage a lot of conservatives (in the Russian sense of the word). Most people think he should be buried and the mausoleum turned into a museum. Wasn't putting Stalin into the mausoleum alongside Lenin the former's decision? He was in there a few years (now he's about 20 meters away). Years ago (1960s), we used to joke that socialism would begin coming to the USSR when Lenin was buried and Stalin put in a tomb on display. In the 1950s, we just argued that Lenin should be buried/cremated. Larry Shute
Re: Utopian Socialism
Speaking of utopianism, how does Roosevelt's Economic Bill of Rights proposal from 1944 sound now: The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation; The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation; The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living; The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad; The right of every family to a decent home; The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health; The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment; The right to a good education. http://www.worldpolicy.org/globalrights/econrights/fdr-econbill.html (And, yes, I remain s Socialist.) Larry Shute Economics, Cal Poly Pomona
Information about Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries?
Can anyone help with information about Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries (APFI)? Or, perhaps refer me to someone? I live in a mountain community in Southern California and some right-wing groups in the community are offering APFIs forest protocols as a model which we should follow. Of course I'm suspicious and wonder if someone has some information or leads for me to follow. Please reply off-list to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> if it's not of general interest. Many thanks. Larry Shute
Data on US Real Income 1993-2002?
I would appreciate being pointed to some data on US real income, 1993-2002 for production and production-related labor. Many thanks. Larry Shute Laurence Shute, Emeritus Professor Department of Economics Voice: 909-869-3850 California State Polytechnic University, Pomona mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] FAX: 909-869-6987 http://www.csupomona.edu/~lshute/
[PEN-L:432] California Economists opposed to Fong Flat Tax?
This message is for economists living and working in California -- I apologize for the inconvenience to others. If you are interested in signing an open letter opposing Matt Fong's "revenue-neutral flat tax" contact the Barbara Boxer campaign at: Los Angeles: 310-575-9880 -- Ask for Lyle Canceko. San Francisco: 415-292-1460 They will fax you a copy of the Open Letter. The deadline is this Friday, October 9th. Larry Shute ---- Laurence Shute Voice: 909-869-3850 Department of Economics FAX: 909-869-6987 California State Polytechnic University, Pomona e-mail: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> -
[PEN-L:70] Re: On the status of the pen-l list
Michael, I agree with Jim Devine that pen-l serves a different purpose and should be retained. The market, after all, is a terribly biased mechanism as we should all know, and I would not favor letting it determine very much. Larry Shute Thanks for your message at 10:26 AM 5/18/98 -0700, Michael Perelman. Your message was: ---snip--- >I want to know what direction we should take. On another list, Barkley >Rosser has said, and not without reason, if the new lists, kill pen-l, >so be it -- the logic of the marketplace of ideas. Off line, Jim Devine >told me that he thought that pen-l serves a different purpose, creating >a different type of space than the other lists.
Robert Mugabe
The president of our university, Bob H. Suzuki, is going to give an honorary doctorate to Robert Mugabe, president of Zimbabwe. There will be a demonstration, of course, at the ceremony. We would appreciate any information on him, sent to the address below, or to me. Many thanks. Larry Shute >I am looking for online information about Robert Mugabe. If you know of any >I would appreciate your sending me the url(s). > >Harriet Lord >[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Books, Articles, on Poverty & Capitalism
For a student's project, I would appreciate suggestions of books, articles, journals, etc., on Poverty in Capitalist Society. (Redundant, I know.) Unless replies are of general interest, please reply to me personally. Many thanks. Larry Shute -- Laurence Shute Voice: 909-869-3850 Department of Economics FAX: 909-869-6987 California State Polytechnic University, Pomona 3801 West Temple Avenue Pomona, CA 91768-4070 USAe-mail: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ---
Re: Trotskyism & Cuban Revolution
I honestly don't have time to follow this up, but I hate to see history turned like this. I was a member of the SWP at this time (late 1950s), and an original member of the Sparticist League under the name of "Ireland." The Cuban Revolution electrified all of us -- it was a heady atmosphere in those days. I was among those on 125th Street in Harlem outside the Hotel Theresa shouting "Fidel, Fidel, etc." when Castro chose to stay there when he came to the UN. There was no traffic as the streets were filled with people. (For non-New-Yorkers, 125th Street is the "Broadway" of Harlem.) No-one "sneered" at the Cuban leadership; the issue was not anti-Castro as it was trying to maintain a strong position in the advanced industrial countries, the U.S. In an effort to turn the SWP back from its rightward march, we were expelled, after a trial out of the movies. We were the first group to be expelled from the SWP who did not want to go. Later, of course, we discovered that the SWP was crawling with FBI agents, though I don't know the percentages. I'm definitely not defending any "sectarianism" though. Incidentally, Wolforth and Robertson split very quickly after the expulsion from the SWP. In the SWP, we were known as the "Revolutionary Tendency;" after the split with Wolforth, the Sparticist League was formed. Perhaps others on line who were around in those days could pick this up and fill in more details. I certainly understand anyone's efforts to take new positions, but re-writing history shouldn't be the basis of it. Larry Shute Thanks for your message at 04:26 PM 12/31/97 -0500, Louis Proyect. Your message was: >Some Trotskyists would not even give the Cubans this much of the benefit of >a doubt. A minority in the SWP led by James Robertson and Tim Wolforth >sneered at the Cuban leadership. Tim Wolforth, who had come to Trotskyism >from social democracy, faulted Castro for not upholding institutions of >worker's democracy. He instructed Castro to emulate Lenin, the architect of >Soviet democracy. Tim Wolforth has returned to the social democracy fold. >(Now he calls it by the less compromised term "democratic socialism.") Tim >Wolforth still declares that Cuba lacks democracy, but blames it now on >Cuba's stubborn adherence to Leninist norms. Tim Wolforth is hard to >please. He spent most of the 60's and 70's as leader of the miniscule >Trotskyist sect called the Worker's League. While others were organizing >demonstrations against the Vietnam War, Wolforth and his followers were >organizing meetings on "dialectics", an issue they believed that >transcended everything. Robertson has also been consistent. He formed a new >group called the Spartacist League in the early 60's that gave his >sectarianism an even more virulent aspect. The cult remains faithful to the >leader's religious beliefs to the present day.
Re: NY Times Article by Bob Herbert on Unemployment
Peace, brother. Larry Shute Thanks for your message at 01:35 PM 11/21/97 -0800, Dave Markland. Your message was: >>From NYT: > >>The interests of the monied classes will trump the interests of the lower >>classes every time. > >Has crack become the drug of choice among the journalistic elite? I mean, I >can tolerate the ravings of agenda-pushing pinkos every few months of so, >but purveyors of American state-corporate propaganda don't generally >acknowldge such an incendiary concept as class warfare. I may have to read >the good Reverend's Washington Times for balance... > >Regards, >Dave > >
NY Times Article by Bob Herbert on Unemployment
Friends, There is a terrific piece by Bob Herbert in the 11/20 NY Times on unemployment: "The Game is Rigged." Perhaps someone could post it in its entirety. Herbert refers to a recent report from the Economic Policy Institute by Jared Bernstein. This "report found that despite the low overall jobless rate, persistently high unemployment continues to plague low-wage workers. Some groups -- including young African-American women -- are experiencing disastrous levels of unemployment." "The report touches on a point that is fully understood by economists and politicians, but not widely known by the general public -- that it is national policy to restrain growth and keep unemployment artificially high." There's lots more -- very quotable. Larry Shute
Re: (Fwd) ADAction News and Notes
Max, Thanks very much for the lead. Larry Thanks for your message at 03:03 PM 10/31/97 +, Max B. Sawicky. Your message was: >From: Laurence Shute <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: Actual US Unemployment Rate?? > ><that the actual US unemployment rate was much higher (say, twice as >high) as the published figures. Because of under counting of >undocumented residents, discouraged workers, and plain old missing of >large groups of poor. > >This morning I seem to have some sort of window of open-mindedness, >however brief it may be, and wonder if anyone has thoughts on this >today? btw, this is one reason I have never thought we had a real >inflationary danger in the past several years.>> > >The ADA regularly presents figures on an alternative >unemployment rate along the lines you suggest. >Check out their web site (noted below) if interested. > >MBS > > >e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Home page: http://adaction.org > > > > > > > > >___ > >AMERICANS FOR DEMOCRATIC ACTION >1625 K Street, N.W., Suite 210 >Washington, D.C. 20006 >e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >fax: (202) 785-5969 >phone:(202) 785-5980 >___ > > > > >=== >Max B. SawickyEconomic Policy Institute >[EMAIL PROTECTED] 1660 L Street, NW >202-775-8810 (voice) Ste. 1200 >202-775-0819 (fax)Washington, DC 20036 >http://tap.epn.org/sawicky > >Opinions above do not necessarily reflect the views >of anyone associated with the Economic Policy >Institute other than this writer. >=== >
Actual US Unemployment Rate??
I may be living in some alternate universe, but I've long thought that the actual US unemployment rate was much higher (say, twice as high) as the published figures. Because of under counting of undocumented residents, discouraged workers, and plain old missing of large groups of poor. This morning I seem to have some sort of window of open-mindedness, however brief it may be, and wonder if anyone has thoughts on this today? btw, this is one reason I have never thought we had a real inflationary danger in the past several years. Larry Shute
Re: List of Basic Econ/Social Institutions in the Economy
Maybe my reply to Paul Phillips might help to clarify. Thanks for your message at 06:30 PM 10/29/97 -0600, valis. Your message was: >Quoth Laurence Shute, in part: >> I would appreciate your help in compiling a list of the 50 -100 basic >> economic and social institutions in the US, possibly Canada as well. What >> are the basic institutions that you feel economics students should have a >> working knowledge of? Any and all suggestions are welcomed. > >50 to 100 such? What in the world do you mean? Do you recall the title >of Calvin's great book; what did _he_ mean? >Well, where the criteria are so vague, assumption can take flight.
Re: Institutions
Paul, Many thanks for your comments. However, I probably didn't make myself that clear. What information about the actual workings of the Canadian/US economy would you like your students to know before they leave school? For example, they need to know what GATT is, and what's happening with it. They need to know about the workings of the Social Security Act. NAFTA and other "free-trade" associations. The EU. and so on. As an Institutionalist/Marxist, I'm very familiar with Commons and teach him in some of my courses. What I'm really looking for are suggestions which could form the backbone of a economics major senior graduation exam, as well as something that could more usefully serve in the introductory course. I agree with you about the "neoclassical fraud" -- what would you like to see put in its place for an introductory course in economics? I have the feeling that economics majors leave the university without any real knowledge of the actual conditions of industrial life. Thanks again for your input. Larry Shute Thanks for your message at 10:52 PM 10/29/97 -0600, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your message was: >Larry Shute asked for a list of the most important >institutions in the market to try to educate his >colleagues about the important constraints on the >neoclassical fraud (er. sorry "model") of the economy. >Unfortunately, I don't think this is a viable approach >to the problem. Commons defined an institution as >"collective action in control of individual action." >That means that "an institution" is anything that >constrains market behaviour -- from collective agreements >and labour union behaviour to oligopoly pricing behaviour, >to church teaching on the moral depravity of working on >Sundays. That is, there are no 10 (20, 30, 100) most >important institutional constraints/ > Institutionalism is a paradigm -- that is >institutions form a web of behaviour that (like the >neoclassical paradigm) produce a resulting behaviour that >one can expect and pattern a policy on. But it is not > 10 (20, 30, 40 ) institutions that one can model in the >neoclassical sense. > One should look at Veblen's classics on this: >The Theory of Business Enterprise, >Absentee Ownership, >The Engineers and the Price System. > >These are particularly enjoyable reading in the current >context of the 'meltdown' of the stock market. I am >sure that Thorstein is chuckling in his grave. > >Paul >Paul Phillips, >Economics, >University of Manitoba. >
Re: list of basic econ/social institutions
Jim, Thanks very much for your excellent suggestions. I would also appreciate more specifics from anyone who would like to suggest. Larry Shute Thanks for your message at 11:33 AM 10/30/97 -0800, James Devine. Your message was: >Larry Shute asks for a list of the basic institutions. I would define an >"institution" as any organization created by people. > >1) capitalism (the "capitalist mode of production"), a macro-societal >institution that includes: > >a) markets. > >Not only are there major institutions within these markets (corporations, >oligopolies, etc.) but markets themselves have human-created rules and >mechanisms. Markets _are_ institutions. One problem with NC econ. is that >they treat markets as somehow being natural rather than creations of human >beings. > >b) the state & political organizations. > >The separation of the state from the rest of society into being a >specialized sector is a key factor differentiating capitalism from other >modes of production. Similar to the state in many ways, but acting in a >decentralized way are: > >c) not-for-profit organizations, including industry self-regulation >organizations. (For the life of me, I don't get why these play little or no >role in econ. textbooks. My life is surrounded by them.) > >d) imperialism (the globalizing drive of capitalism. maybe not an >institution itself). > >Bureaucracies are very important institutions in corporations, the state, >political organizations, and not-for-profits. They also play a role in: > >2) labor unions & informal labor organizations. > >3) patriarchy: this a long-lived system of male privilege that precedes >capitalism and has so far persisted in post-capitalist societies >(bureaucratic socialism). > >4) ethnic or racial domination. > >Cutting institutions a different way (following and adding to Robert >Heilbroner), one can think of 4 major ways that people organize themselves: > >1) tradition, custom, convention. (The role of custom is being accepted >more and more by economists these days. A colleague of mine just told me of >one at the University of Chicago's economics department who emphasizes the >role of customs.) > >2) command, bureaucracy, top-down rule. > >3) markets, competition. > >4) democracy, bottom-up rule. > >It reveals a lot about Heilbroner that he missed the last one (and that >many economists have followed him on this). In personal communication, >however, he did indicate that he was willing to accept #4 as a friendly >amendment. > >in pen-l solidarity, > >Jim Devine [EMAIL PROTECTED] >http://clawww.lmu.edu/1997F/ECON/jdevine.html >Econ. Dept., Loyola Marymount Univ. >7900 Loyola Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90045-8410 USA >310/338-2948 (daytime, during workweek); FAX: 310/338-1950 >"The only trouble with capitalism is capitalists. They're too damned greedy." >-- Herbert Hoover >
List of Basic Econ/Social Institutions in the Economy
Friends, I would appreciate your help in compiling a list of the 50 -100 basic economic and social institutions in the US, possibly Canada as well. What are the basic institutions that you feel economics students should have a working knowledge of? Any and all suggestions are welcomed. I'm beginning to work on something for my department -- trying to wean some of them away from the same old sifting of the sawdust, supply/demand, etc. And perhaps the list should be only, say, 25 institutions. What do you think? Please respond to my personal e-mail address unless you feel that the issues are general. Many thanks. Larry Shute -- Laurence Shute Voice: 909-869-38500 Department of Economics FAX: 909-869-6987 California State Polytechnic University, Pomona 3801 West Temple Avenue Pomona, CA 91768-4070 USAe-mail: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ---
Re: Info on the Economics of the Family, Present and Future?
Hi Ellen, Thanks for the help. Do you know if this Labor Project for Working Families is on line? It's just the sort of thing I am looking for. Thanks. Larry Shute Thanks for your message at 05:19 PM 10/17/97 -0700, anzalone/starbird. Your message was: >Try the Labor Project for Working Families in at U.C. Berkeley. > >Ellen Starbird > >>I'm to appear on a local community college panel discussing the economics >>of the family, present and future. The other two participants are a >>sociologist and an historian. I would be grateful for any data sources, >>summaries, studies, etc. which might be of use. Please send them to me >>personally unless you think they are of general interest. >> >>Many thanks. >>Larry Shute >>-- >>Laurence ShuteVoice: 909-869-38500 >>Department of Economics FAX: 909-869-6987 >>California State Polytechnic University, Pomona >>3801 West Temple Avenue >>Pomona, CA 91768-4070 USA e-mail: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>--- > > >
Info on the Economics of the Family, Present and Future?
I'm to appear on a local community college panel discussing the economics of the family, present and future. The other two participants are a sociologist and an historian. I would be grateful for any data sources, summaries, studies, etc. which might be of use. Please send them to me personally unless you think they are of general interest. Many thanks. Larry Shute -- Laurence Shute Voice: 909-869-38500 Department of Economics FAX: 909-869-6987 California State Polytechnic University, Pomona 3801 West Temple Avenue Pomona, CA 91768-4070 USAe-mail: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ---
[PEN-L:12665] Story on College Grads with High School jobs??
I thought I saw something recently about College Grads landing High School jobs because the college folk were not being trained as well as they once were. Does anyone recall this? I would appreciate the reference -- you can send it directly to me at <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Many thanks. Larry Shute
[PEN-L:12521] Re: POMO on Social Classes
ng of Marxism with Chinese culture and the existing class >>structure >>>with all its contradictions--not the layering of theoretically pre-defined >>>classes on existing cultural structures. In looking at the United States >(as >>>the place I have the most knowledge of), I think the value of some pomo >>>research has been to gather raw data on inner-class divisions which can be >>>used to strengthen class analysis so that it actually reflects the culture >>of >>>the United States. To grow functioning resistance movements, and combat the >>>deep divisions within communities, it is really necessary to understand how >>>class, race, ethnicity, and gender interact. >>>maggie coleman [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>> >> >> >>--- Headers >>Received: from mrin74.mail.aol.com (mrin74.mail.aol.com [152.163.116.112]) >>by air15.mail.aol.com (V32) with SMTP; Thu, 18 Sep 1997 14:32:17 -0400 >>Received: from anthrax.ecst.csuchico.edu (anthrax.ecst.csuchico.edu >>[132.241.9.84]) >>by mrin74.mail.aol.com (8.8.5/8.8.5/AOL-4.0.0) >>with ESMTP id OAA20776; >>Thu, 18 Sep 1997 14:31:41 -0400 (EDT) >>Received: from anthrax (localhost [127.0.0.1]) >> by anthrax.ecst.csuchico.edu (8.8.5/8.8.5) with SMTP id LAA02922; >> Thu, 18 Sep 1997 11:30:32 -0700 (PDT) >>Date: Thu, 18 Sep 1997 11:30:32 -0700 (PDT) >>Message-Id: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>Errors-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>Originator: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>Precedence: bulk >>From: Laurence Shute <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>To: Multiple recipients of list <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>Subject: [PEN-L:12445] Re: POMO on Social Classes >>X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas >>X-Comment: Progressive Economics >> >> > > >
[PEN-L:12520] Re: travels
Michael, If you can give me some idea about when you will be in the L.A. area, I would like to try to get you on campus for a talk -- I can probably get a few dollars as well, plus that old free lunch. For your wife, too. We have a hotel & restaurant school here with a nice restaurant. I have in mind your speaking to perhaps a combined group of the faculty union and the Economics Dept. Let me know when you can. Thanks. Larry Shute Thanks for your message at 01:28 PM 9/20/97 -0700, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your message was: >Friends, > >My wife and I are going to be driving cross country starting this Monday. We >should hit the west coast in Seattle in about a week. then we are going down >the coast to LA and then winding our way back. I've got an 800 number >connection to the internet, so I can be reached by email. > >The AFL-CIO is in Pittsburgh this next week, and there is a teach-in tomorrow. >I'm the chair of a panel on "what's new in the new labor movement?" I've been >asked to ask the "hard" questions. What would you ask or bring up for >discussion if you were me? > >Anyone out there in the west wants to buy me a drink, let me know! > >michael yates > -- Laurence Shute Voice: 909-869-38500 Department of Economics FAX: 909-869-6987 California State Polytechnic University, Pomona 3801 West Temple Avenue Pomona, CA 91768-4070 USAe-mail: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ---
[PEN-L:12445] Re: POMO on Social Classes
Maggie and all, At Columbia University, from the 1930's until his death in the late 1950's (1958?), the Marxist sociologist and anthropologist Bernard J. Stern -- who gave the journal "Science and Society" its name -- taught graduate courses in Social Class. Perhaps also at the New School, where he also taught.. He always carefully and explicitly pointed out that _within_ different social classes, there were different _strata_. He spent a great deal of time examining the differences in their thinking, etc. In some respects, pomo may have been simply "thinking things up rather than looking them up" -- the absence of training in the history of ideas. Some of his work was later collected in a volume titled _Historical Sociology_ (I think, the book is at home). Stern had all his books banned from State Dept. Libraries overseas by McCarthy, etc. Stern was also a supporter of womens' rights, and wrote a piece on the position of women in historical society for the Encyclopaedia of the Social Sciences. In that piece, he clearly points out many gender and class differences, etc. Larry Shute Thanks for your message at 06:00 PM 9/17/97 -0700, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your message was: >In a message dated 97-09-17 12:12:02 EDT, you write: > >>So the task for non-rigid Marxians and other socialists is to >>take the insights of postmodernism (about language, about the construction >>of subjects) and move beyond them - to devise a non-vulgar foundationalism, >>and to rethink class as the fully complex thing it is. Post-Sokal >>exuberance is no excuse to think the old verities have now been >>self-evidently restored. >> >>Doug > >I've often thought that pomo has significant insights--the problem being >finding the insights amongst the dreck. One thing pomo has done, well in a >few cases, and poorly in many, is to begin describing the contradictions >within classes and groupings, rather than seeing classes as the proverbial >black boxes--once tagged, acting exactly the same all the time. Mao's >leadership genius in China (NOT to suggest that Mao was a pomo) was his >interweaving of Marxism with Chinese culture and the existing class structure >with all its contradictions--not the layering of theoretically pre-defined >classes on existing cultural structures. In looking at the United States (as >the place I have the most knowledge of), I think the value of some pomo >research has been to gather raw data on inner-class divisions which can be >used to strengthen class analysis so that it actually reflects the culture of >the United States. To grow functioning resistance movements, and combat the >deep divisions within communities, it is really necessary to understand how >class, race, ethnicity, and gender interact. >maggie coleman [EMAIL PROTECTED] >
[PEN-L:12349] Re: Comp.Econ.Sys. course bibliography
Eric, I would appreciate a copy. Thanks, Larry Shute >Eric Schutz writes: >>I have just updated a bibliography on socialist >economics that I sent out to pen-l'ers in 1991, suitable for use in courses >on, e.g., Comp. Econ. Sys. I'll be happy to e-mail the new version (about >200-titles) to pen-l'ers on request.<< -- Laurence Shute Voice: 909-869-38500 Department of Economics FAX: 909-869-6987 California State Polytechnic University, Pomona 3801 West Temple Avenue Pomona, CA 91768-4070 USAe-mail: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ---
[PEN-L:12222] AFIT Call for Participants
Friends, Please circulate the following call for participants. Many thanks. Larry Shute Association for Institutional Thought CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS: The annual meeting of the Association for Institutional Thought (AFIT) will be held April 15 - 18, 1997 Denver, Colorado in conjunction with the 40th Annual Conference of the WESTERN SOCIAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION AFIT is a national organization dedicated to advancing the discipline of economics and developing contemporary and relevant policy analyses which utilize the perspective of Institutional Economics. The Western Social Science Association is a professional organization dedicated to interdisciplinary scholarship. All interested scholars are cordially invited to participate by submitting complete panel proposals, individual paper proposals, serving as discussants, or as session chairs. Complete panels are particularly welcomed. DEADLINES: November 5th: Proposals (for complete panels no abstracts needed) December 5th: Abstracts for individual papers; discussants, chairs NOTE: Please include your name, affiliation, mailing address, telephone number, FAX number, and e-mail address. All submissions should be sent by the deadlines noted to: Larry Shute Department of Economics California State Polytechnic University, Pomona [Cal Poly Pomona] 3801 West Temple Ave. Pomona, CA 91768-4070, USA Telephone: 909-869-3850 FAX: 909-869-6987 e-mail: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
[PEN-L:11894] Southern California Multipliers
Does anyone know where I can find multipliers for California or Southern California? AE multipliers, export multipliers, etc. Is this BEA stuff? or does the Anderson School have that? Many thanks. Larry Shute -- Laurence Shute Voice: 909-869-38500 Department of Economics FAX: 909-869-6987 California State Polytechnic University, Pomona 3801 West Temple Avenue Pomona, CA 91768-4070 USAe-mail: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ---
[PEN-L:11696] Re: questions about part time jobs
I was bothered by this WSJ piece myself. I have forgotten how many hours/week one needs to work to be counted as being employed "full-time." My impression is that it's pretty low, something like 15 hours/week. In any case I also believe that stringing together several part-time jobs can make one employed "full-time," not a part-timer. Hence, the data are misleading. Or, at least the article is -- and I've left it at home so I can't quote. Can someone enlighten me on these points? Also, today's New York Times reports that part-timers in fact get "good" benefits, I believe hospitalization being the crucial one. Again, my copy is at home. My understanding was that part-time employment, as a percentage of the labor force, was increasing world-wide, from Europe to Asia. Does anyone have data on this? Larry Shute Cal Poly Pomona Thanks for your message at 06:10 PM 8/11/97 -0700, Michael Perelman. Your message was: >1. The Wall Street Journal says that part time jobs are not increasing? >Any thoughts. > >2. If a person has 2 part time jobs, does that count as a single part >time worker or 2? > >3. I thought that I heard on KPFA [Berkeley Pacifica station] that UPS >part timers did get reasonable benefits, even though their wages were >lower. > >4. Could UPS hire enough scabs [replacement workers]to operate w/o the >unionized workers? >-- >Michael Perelman >Economics Department >California State University >Chico, CA 95929 > >Tel. 916-898-5321 >E-Mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] > -- Laurence Shute Voice: 909-869-38500 Department of Economics FAX: 909-869-6987 California State Polytechnic University, Pomona 3801 West Temple Avenue Pomona, CA 91768-4070 USAe-mail: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ---
[PEN-L:11433] Re: Intuition in Math Reasoning: Keynes & JM Clark
In a 1941 letter to J.M. Clark, Keynes wrote: "As you will have gathered the other evening, I agree with what you say about the danger of a 'school,' even when it is one's own. There is great danger in quantitative forecasts which are based exclusively on statistics relating to conditions by no means parallel. I have tried to persuade Gilbert and Humphrey and Salant that they should be more cautious. I have also tried to persuade them that they have tended to neglect certain theoretical considerations which are important, in the interests of simplifying their statistical task." In Dec. 1941, before the AEA, J.M. Clark said: "Among other things, we appear to be in for a period of government by statistics and econometrics. This is little better than chartless fumbling with essentially quantitative [qualitative?] problems; ... There is real danger that, in certain sectors, government's immediate objective will be not a realistic picture of the lives of its citizens but figures in tables or lines on charts which leave out vital imponderables and are not even accurate as figures." Larry Shute Thanks for your message at 02:56 AM 7/23/97 -0700, romain_kroes. Your message was: >It's relevant that Keynes doesn't condemn, here, the use of mathematics >in economics (as for him, he rather liked to have recourse to them up to >tautology), but that he implicitly accuses the lack of a conceptual >basis in economics, so much so that "the back of the head" is nothing >but a rough substitute for it. > >Economics aren't yet a true science, although such a tool has never been >so necessary as nowadays. That's the reason why econometrics ask >mathematics to fill the conceptual gap. This matter is economically the >most important one, but I'm afraid it doesn't interest the most of >economists... > >Sincerly > >Romain Kroes > >Laurence Shute wrote: >> >> Does this help any? From the General Theory (pp 297-98): >> >> "It is a great fault of symbolic pseudo-mathematical methods of formalising >> a system of economic analysis, such as we shall set down in section VI of >> this chapter, that they expressly assume strict independence between the >> factors involved and lose all their cogency and authority if this >> hypothesis is disallowed; whereas, in ordinary discourse, where we are not >> blindly manipulating but know all the time what we are doing and what the >> words mean, we can keep 'at the back of our heads' the necessary reserves >> and qualifications and the adjustments which we shall have to make later >> on, in a way in which we cannot keep complicated partial differentials 'at >> the back' of several pages of algebra which assume that they all vanish. >> Too large a proportion of recent 'mathematical' economics are mere >> concoctions, as imprecise as the initial assumptions they rest on, which >> allow the author to lose4 sight of the complexities and interdependencies >> of the real world in a maze of pretentious and unhelpful symbols." >> >> In 1940 Keynes was greatly worried that his American disciplices "were more >> orthodox than the master," in the sense that they failed to keep the >> necessary reservations "at the back of their head." > >
[PEN-L:11381] Re: Intuition in Math Reasoning
Does this help any? From the General Theory (pp 297-98): "It is a great fault of symbolic pseudo-mathematical methods of formalising a system of economic analysis, such as we shall set down in section VI of this chapter, that they expressly assume strict independence between the factors involved and lose all their cogency and authority if this hypothesis is disallowed; whereas, in ordinary discourse, where we are not blindly manipulating but know all the time what we are doing and what the words mean, we can keep 'at the back of our heads' the necessary reserves and qualifications and the adjustments which we shall have to make later on, in a way in which we cannot keep complicated partial differentials 'at the back' of several pages of algebra which assume that they all vanish. Too large a proportion of recent 'mathematical' economics are mere concoctions, as imprecise as the initial assumptions they rest on, which allow the author to lose4 sight of the complexities and interdependencies of the real world in a maze of pretentious and unhelpful symbols." In 1940 Keynes was greatly worried that his American disciplices "were more orthodox than the master," in the sense that they failed to keep the necessary reservations "at the back of their head." Larry Shute Thanks for your message at 07:06 AM 7/22/97 -0700, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your message was: >In a message dated 97-07-21 10:04:11 EDT, Anders writes: > >>At 07:35 PM 7/20/97 -0700, Maggie wrote: >>>Nope. This is why ( as I pointed out) other types of debate are more >>>It may not have been phrased exactly this way, but what I say in the rest >of >>>my initial message is that one of the primary feminist critiques is that >>>econometrics (models) are almost by definition inaccurate. In other words, >>>they are parsimonious to the point where they can not possibly reflect >>social >>>issues (power, gender, race, sexual preference, etc.). So even when power >>is >>>added to a model, the model inaccurately portrays the exercise of power >>>because the one dimensional nature of mathematics does not allow for the >>>variable degrees of the exercise of power. >> >>Is that really the result of mathematics, or is it the result of a model >>that starts with the assumption that we don't have to worry about power (or >>attempts to change the rules of the game)? If you had a model that did >>start by putting power at the center, why couldn't you use math to talk >>about variable degrees of power? >Wl, part of it is the assumptions on which the model is based--so, >frinstance, Posner's recent work which "proves" that white men should receive >a larger part of the medical research dollar because the loss of white men to >ill health or death costs more is an excellent example of assumptions >determining outcome. As long as we measure the value of life in terms of >documented income from the market place, and do not place a monetary value on >household labor, mainstream economists will always reach this conclusion. > ***However even if one incorporates truly progressive values into >econometric work--and I think that there is some really good work out there >(frinstance, Australlian economist Gillian Hewitson did an excellent rational >choice model for surrogate mothers) I question the ability of mathematics to >portray the complexities of social interactions. Does racism or sexism or >power vary with mathematical certitude even in exactly the same situations >over time? I really don't think so. > >> >>>Further, econometrics is only one >>>form of logic, generally associated with men, and its use as a legitimizing >>>force to the exclusion of all other types of logic (artistic, intuitive) is >>>in and of itself a form of bigotry. >> >>Two questions: >> >>-- Suppose econometrics gave us the answers we wanted. Would it be bigotry >>to say, that's what we're going to use to the exclusion of, say, artistic >>logic? >I'm not sure I understand the question--but--I wrote in answer to Jim Devine >that I am not completely convinced by this portion of the feminist argument. > I don't think there has been enough of a separation between econometrics as >a tool and the USE of that tool by the mainstream as a way of promoting all >forms of bigotry. > >> >>-- Are you arguing that econometrics doesn't involve intuitive and other >>forms of logic, or are you saying that when it's used as a legitimating >>force, it pretends that it doesn't involve intuition, etc.? The reason I >>ask is that I remember reading articles about the history of econometrics >>many moons ago that analyzed the shift in rhetoric, and they all argued >>that econometrics was an attempt to appopriate the images of "hardness" and >>"rigor" from physics while denying the role of intuition, etc. that physics >>takes for granted. >All science begins with intuition. However, econometrics simplifies this >intuition to a parsimonious skeleton and--at best--is useful as a compliment >to intuitive
[PEN-L:10605] Re: French elections Retitled: Limit the Working Day?
Limiting the working day is all right, but does that really deal with the issues facing workers today? Isn't job security and freedom from Orwellian "downsizing" and "outsourcing" more of an issue? Don't we need to ask some of the basic questions: Is production of goods more important in society (= "efficiency" ), or are the workers, the people more important -- in the sense of making sure they have jobs and income? It seems to me that labor should be made an overhead cost -- in other words, hired as permanent workers like (non-rented) machines are. In other words, ALL labor should have tenure. It also seems to me that we need to find ways to separate Jobs and Employment from Income received. Larry Shute = At 09:01 PM 6/5/97 -0700, you wrote: >Shawgi Tell asked, > >>Tom what do you think is needed to move society forward? I posed >>this question to Michael yesterday. Hope to hear from the both of you and >>others. > >I will begin with a brief citation, which not only sums up my own position >but states the practical program drafted by Karl Marx and adopted by the >Congress of the International Working Men's Association at Geneva in 1866: >"The limitation of the working day is a preliminary condition without which >all further attempts at improvement and emancipation must prove abortive." > >A U.S. resolution to the same aim, also adopted in 1866, concluded with the >following oath: "We are resolved to put forth all our strength until this >glorious result is attained." > >What is needed is a broad popular movement to limit the working day. No one >has asked me what my program would be if I found myself suddenly the >socialist prime minister of France. But I'll answer anyway. My program would >be based on the principle that so long as a single person is unable to find >sustaining work, the hours of labour are too long. My program would also be >based on dismantling the state apparatus that has been built up for the sole >purpose of artificially prolonging the working day (and thereby underwriting >the accumulation of capital and fostering division among workers). > >I wouldn't bother expounding on whether such policies are social democratic, >socialist or communist. I would defend them on the sole grounds that they >are necessary and just. I would be shot within a few weeks. > > >Regards, > >Tom Walker -- Laurence Shute Voice: 909-869-38500 Department of Economics FAX: 909-869-6987 California State Polytechnic University, Pomona 3801 West Temple Avenue Pomona, CA 91768-4070 USAe-mail: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ---
[PEN-L:10159] Re: The sociology of pen-l
Friends, I'd like to second the views of Steven and Michael about failure to respond to many of the postings. I find much of what crosses the screen to be fascinating and I often print it out for later consideration. Sometimes I suppose we like to display our knowledge, and sometimes the conversations get a bit too heated. But overall I find this a good list. I don't participate much at all because I just don't have the time to develop a thoughtful response. But it's all appreciated and please don't take "no response" for an absence of interest. Larry Shute <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> === >On Thu, 15 May 1997, Michael Perelman wrote: > > > >> I often hear people express disappointment that their postings seem to >> fall flat. Nobody responds. The reason is not necessarily >> disinterest. It can also be that the post makes a point so well that >> nothing more need be said. > >This is often the case for me. Or sometimes people will have already made >the point that I was planning to make. > >I feel that PEN-L has been enjoying a revival of sorts. There have been a >variety of interesting threads of conversation, and there have been a >number of excellent recent contributions from persons with "shop-floor" >rather than academic points of view (Laurie Dougherty's messages come to >mind). This latest round of criticism and response has also been >valuable to me, although perhaps some of the participants do not view it >as such. I say "let's keep at it." > >Steven Zahniser >[EMAIL PROTECTED]
[PEN-L:9269] Re: FW: BLS Daily Report & Consumer Surveys
Pen-L, Can anyone tell me why the thin Conference Board consumer survey (5 or 6 questions?) is used so much, instead of the more extensive Michigan survey? Larry Shute >> Consumer confidence remained strong in March, edging down 0.4 >> percentage point, the Conference Board reports Consumers are >> optimistic about the current business situation, as well as the >> prospects for six months from now (Daily Report, page A-4; >> Washington Post, page C12; New York Times, page D5; Wall Street >> Journal, page A2).
[PEN-L:8724] Re: market socialism, income tied to labor?
Only a thought: Why is it that income in a society must be tied to labor, a la MRP or otherwise? Larry Shute At 01:29 PM 2/19/97 -0800, you wrote: >While one might hope that relative wages in a workers' managed market >socialism would be set according to some criterion other than marginal >revenue products -- as Rosser implies they would/could be -- I know of no >analyst of such a system who does not conclude that the labor market in >such a system would function in a way to generate marginal revenue product >wages PLUS perhaps an equal share of after nonlabor and labor cost profits. >Domar, Ward, Horvat, Vaneck, etc. David Schweickart seems to assume other >wise presumably because he would like to believe otherwise. But he's a >philosopher not an economist, for god's sake. We economists seem to know >better. >
[PEN-L:8506] Re: Capacity Utilization Rate
Capacity utilization is also a tricky area. I haven't looked lately, but years ago the rate was changed to "profitable" capacity utilization rate. Guess what that did to capacity utilization rates? Perhaps others working currently in the area can shed more light on this. Larry Shute >Isn't the rate of unemployment and or the capacity utilization rate >a proxy for the level of demand at which capitalists collectively succeed >in raising prices? And shouldn't that be the first point made in public >discussions of NAIRU? > > >
[PEN-L:8467] Re: End of NAIRU?
Does it really matter whether "they" keep NAIRU or not? Isn't the real, underlying, issue one of keeping a reserve army without labeling it as such. Whether by fiddling with unemployment definitions, failing to distinguish the numbers of contract workers with 2 or more jobs, or by other means? It seems quite reasonable to me that some Economic Genius will shoot down NAIRU one day and proclaim its twin as supreme. Plus ca change n'est-ce-pas? Or am I missing something fundamental here? Best regards, Larry Shute At 03:03 PM 2/4/97 -0800, you wrote: >Sid Shniad quoted, > >>>"Karl Marx argued that capitalism needs a 'reserve army' of unemployed >>>labor to restrain wage demands and safeguard profits. Most economic >>>policy makers still think the same way, but recent experience in the U.S. >>>and Britain suggests the army might need fewer troops than it used to." > >And Doug Henwood replied, > >>Yes, I'd say this is the ruling class consensus now. > >Yeah, but. Stay tuned for "The End of NAIRU," coming soon to a listserv near >you. Two years from now you won't be able to find an economist anywhere who >will admit to having believed in the 'natural rate of unemployment'. Print >this prediction and paste it on your monitor, if it doesn't come true, send >me the paper and I'll eat it. >Regards, > >Tom Walker Laurence Shute Voice: 909-869-3850 Department of Economics FAX: 909-869-6987 California State Polytechnic University, Pomona e-mail: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> -
[PEN-L:8272] Re: Apologies, again, for posting to the world
PEN-L, I did it again: posted to the world, being in a hurry. I apologize and will _really_ try to slow down. Larry Shute
[PEN-L:8272] Re: Apologies, again, for posting to the world
PEN-L, I did it again: posted to the world, being in a hurry. I apologize and will _really_ try to slow down. Larry Shute
[PEN-L:8269] Re:
Dear Paul, Perhaps you didn't get my last message. I thought I was doing the one on John Maurice Clark (#83) and I also volunteered to do #75 on Social Control of Business since that dovetails with the Clark piece. In any case, I have been working on the Clark piece and would like to know if I should finish it or not. Thanks. Larry Shute === OMDear Pen-lers, As many of you know, there is in preparation the Encyclopaedia of Political Economy (EPE) under the general editorship of Phil Ohara at Curtin University in Perth Australia which involves quite a number on this list and also PKT. This major volume is to be published by Routledge. Unfortunately, (for various reasons) there are still a number of entries that do not have authors and as the publishing deadline is fast approaching, Phil is seeking writers and asked me to post the list of items wanting authors to this list. Now, from the discussion on this list, I know there are experts here that could write these entries in an evening, or who know who can. I appeal to them to e-mail Phil at [EMAIL PROTECTED] and offer your expertise. Paul Phillips 51. Entries in Need of Writers (as of 16 Jan 97) 53. 54. Business Cycles: Major Contemporary Themes [2000 words] 55. 56. Work, labor and Production: Major Contemporary Themes [2000 words] 57. Unions [1400 words] 58. 59. Increasing Returns to Scale [1500 words] 60. Verdoorn's Law [1200 words] 61. Okun's Law [1200 words] 62. Capital Reversing [1500 words] 63. Rate of Return Controversy [1000 words] 64. 65. Methodology: Major Contemporary Themes [2000 words] 66. Methodology: History of in PE [1700 words] PAUSE: 67. Foundationalism and Anti-Foundationalism in PE [1200] 68. International Network for Economic Methodology [400 words] 69. 70. Environmental & Ecological PE: History & Nature of [1700 words] 71. Environmental Accounting [1200 words] 72. Quality of Life [1 500 words] 73. 74. New Institutionalism [1400 words] 75. Social Control of Business [1200 words] 76. Centralised Private Sector Planning System [1400 words] 77. 78. Finance Capital [1000] 79. Financial Innovation [1500 words] 80. Crime [1500 words] 81. Justice [1400] 82. Rent Seeking and Vested Interests [1400 words] 83. Overhead Costs (J.M. Clark)[1200] 84. Conference of Socialist Economists [1000 words] 85. 86. Please do let me know if you are interested, or can suggest 87. possible writers. They would have to be written by mid-late 88. February at the latest. 89. PAUSE: 90. 91. 92. = 93. 94. Phillip O'Hara, Department of Economics 95. Curtin University of Technology 96. GPO Box U1987, Perth. 6001 Australia 97. email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 98. Fax: +61-9-351-3026 99. Tel: +61-9-351-7761 (work - message machine) 100.: 451-2618 (home) --SAA03881.853469290/pitbull.ecst.csuchico.edu-- ---- Laurence Shute <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Department of Economics Voice: 909.869.3850 California State Polytechnic University, Pomona 3801 West Temple Avenue Pomona, CA 91768-4070 USA FAX: 909.869.6987
[PEN-L:8269] Re:
Dear Paul, Perhaps you didn't get my last message. I thought I was doing the one on John Maurice Clark (#83) and I also volunteered to do #75 on Social Control of Business since that dovetails with the Clark piece. In any case, I have been working on the Clark piece and would like to know if I should finish it or not. Thanks. Larry Shute === OMDear Pen-lers, As many of you know, there is in preparation the Encyclopaedia of Political Economy (EPE) under the general editorship of Phil Ohara at Curtin University in Perth Australia which involves quite a number on this list and also PKT. This major volume is to be published by Routledge. Unfortunately, (for various reasons) there are still a number of entries that do not have authors and as the publishing deadline is fast approaching, Phil is seeking writers and asked me to post the list of items wanting authors to this list. Now, from the discussion on this list, I know there are experts here that could write these entries in an evening, or who know who can. I appeal to them to e-mail Phil at [EMAIL PROTECTED] and offer your expertise. Paul Phillips 51. Entries in Need of Writers (as of 16 Jan 97) 53. 54. Business Cycles: Major Contemporary Themes [2000 words] 55. 56. Work, labor and Production: Major Contemporary Themes [2000 words] 57. Unions [1400 words] 58. 59. Increasing Returns to Scale [1500 words] 60. Verdoorn's Law [1200 words] 61. Okun's Law [1200 words] 62. Capital Reversing [1500 words] 63. Rate of Return Controversy [1000 words] 64. 65. Methodology: Major Contemporary Themes [2000 words] 66. Methodology: History of in PE [1700 words] PAUSE: 67. Foundationalism and Anti-Foundationalism in PE [1200] 68. International Network for Economic Methodology [400 words] 69. 70. Environmental & Ecological PE: History & Nature of [1700 words] 71. Environmental Accounting [1200 words] 72. Quality of Life [1 500 words] 73. 74. New Institutionalism [1400 words] 75. Social Control of Business [1200 words] 76. Centralised Private Sector Planning System [1400 words] 77. 78. Finance Capital [1000] 79. Financial Innovation [1500 words] 80. Crime [1500 words] 81. Justice [1400] 82. Rent Seeking and Vested Interests [1400 words] 83. Overhead Costs (J.M. Clark)[1200] 84. Conference of Socialist Economists [1000 words] 85. 86. Please do let me know if you are interested, or can suggest 87. possible writers. They would have to be written by mid-late 88. February at the latest. 89. PAUSE: 90. 91. 92. = 93. 94. Phillip O'Hara, Department of Economics 95. Curtin University of Technology 96. GPO Box U1987, Perth. 6001 Australia 97. email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 98. Fax: +61-9-351-3026 99. Tel: +61-9-351-7761 (work - message machine) 100.: 451-2618 (home) --SAA03881.853469290/pitbull.ecst.csuchico.edu-- ---- Laurence Shute <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Department of Economics Voice: 909.869.3850 California State Polytechnic University, Pomona 3801 West Temple Avenue Pomona, CA 91768-4070 USA FAX: 909.869.6987
[PEN-L:8223] Re: Apologies for posting to everyone
Friends, My apologies for posting my reply to Michael Yates to everyone. It's late and I'm tired. Larry Shute
[PEN-L:8223] Re: Apologies for posting to everyone
Friends, My apologies for posting my reply to Michael Yates to everyone. It's late and I'm tired. Larry Shute
[PEN-L:8222] Re: speaking engagements
Hello Michael, We would be very interested in having you come to the Calif State Polytechnic Univ., Pomona. Unfortunately, our school is on the quarter system and we don't start until late September. I am presently chair of the Faculty Senate, but next year I may be the President of the local faculty union: Calif Faculty Assocn. The Cal State System has a _very_ unpopular working contract now and it comes up for renewal in 1998. We could furnish at least $100 for transportation and you're welcome to stay with me for housing -- or any of several others around here. Pomona is about 40 miles from LA, near the Claremont Colleges; Jim Devine has been out here speaking a couple of years ago. I'm an Institutionalist/Marxist, aging, with an fbi file that goes back to the late 1950's. If any of this is of interest, and if it fits in with your schedule, let me know at any time. Speaking at our campus would probably be best in early October, though we could see about late Sept. My name and stuff is below. My home telephone is: 909-357-2881. Good luck with your trip. Fraternally, Larry Shute ps: if I can get more money I will. === Dear friends, I will be on a leave from the first of May until the end of December. I am interested in moving around the country, meeting activists and perhaps speaking. I will be on the West Coast in September for sure. I have given many talks to college groups and union groups. I know the most about labor-related issues, so these are what I am most interested in talking about. I also have done many seminars with union groups on subjects ranging from collective bargaining to labor law to labor economics. For worker and community groups, I am happy to speak for free (I just require a place to stay and something toward transportation). Should anyone be interested, I can provide a vita and video and audio tapes. in solidarity, Michael Yates Economics Dept. Univ. of Pittsburgh at Johnstown Johnstown, PA 15904 814-269-2986 [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---- Laurence Shute <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Department of Economics Voice: 909.869.3850 California State Polytechnic University, Pomona 3801 West Temple Avenue Pomona, CA 91768-4070 USA FAX: 909.869.6987
[PEN-L:8222] Re: speaking engagements
Hello Michael, We would be very interested in having you come to the Calif State Polytechnic Univ., Pomona. Unfortunately, our school is on the quarter system and we don't start until late September. I am presently chair of the Faculty Senate, but next year I may be the President of the local faculty union: Calif Faculty Assocn. The Cal State System has a _very_ unpopular working contract now and it comes up for renewal in 1998. We could furnish at least $100 for transportation and you're welcome to stay with me for housing -- or any of several others around here. Pomona is about 40 miles from LA, near the Claremont Colleges; Jim Devine has been out here speaking a couple of years ago. I'm an Institutionalist/Marxist, aging, with an fbi file that goes back to the late 1950's. If any of this is of interest, and if it fits in with your schedule, let me know at any time. Speaking at our campus would probably be best in early October, though we could see about late Sept. My name and stuff is below. My home telephone is: 909-357-2881. Good luck with your trip. Fraternally, Larry Shute ps: if I can get more money I will. === Dear friends, I will be on a leave from the first of May until the end of December. I am interested in moving around the country, meeting activists and perhaps speaking. I will be on the West Coast in September for sure. I have given many talks to college groups and union groups. I know the most about labor-related issues, so these are what I am most interested in talking about. I also have done many seminars with union groups on subjects ranging from collective bargaining to labor law to labor economics. For worker and community groups, I am happy to speak for free (I just require a place to stay and something toward transportation). Should anyone be interested, I can provide a vita and video and audio tapes. in solidarity, Michael Yates Economics Dept. Univ. of Pittsburgh at Johnstown Johnstown, PA 15904 814-269-2986 [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---- Laurence Shute <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Department of Economics Voice: 909.869.3850 California State Polytechnic University, Pomona 3801 West Temple Avenue Pomona, CA 91768-4070 USA FAX: 909.869.6987
[PEN-L:7392] Re: "hard" & "soft" science
Years ago, I used to hear the (perhaps apocryphal) story of Max Planck talking to Keynes. Seems that as an undergraduate Planck was undecided between physics and economics. He chose physics on the grounds that economics was "too difficult" --i.e., too many variables. Larry Shute At 12:09 PM 11/13/96 -0800, you wrote: > >Jim Devine wrote: > >>yeah, but I don't expect that social science can or will be able >>to answer these questions, since the object of study (people, >>society) is much more difficult than that of, say, physics. But >>we should at least try. > >Difficult? Don't know about that; it's a lot easier to be an amateur >sociologist (or economist even!) than amateur quantum physicist. Less >predictable, maybe. > >But your position, Jim, sounds quite the opposite of what Aronowitz and the >social construction crowd argues. To them, the truth claims of the "hard" >sciences are no different from those of the "soft" ones (and no doubt my >choice of words there betrays my phallogocentrism). > >Doug > > > >Doug Henwood >[[EMAIL PROTECTED]] >Left Business Observer >250 W 85 St >New York NY 10024-3217 >phone: +1-212-874-4020 >fax: +1-212-874-3137 > >
[PEN-L:7328] Re: Political cartoon
Another good political cartoon was reprinted in the Sunday N.Y. Times (?last week): It shows a woman sitting before "El Presidente" -- the boss' desk. She says: "Um, if you don't mind, if you have nothing better do do, could you please stop dumping toxins in the river? Also some pay equity would be nice, too ..." The Boss says: "Thanks for working within the system. Now get out." --The heading is: "Political Activism in the 90's" and is by Ted Rail, Universal Press Syndicate. Larry Shute Here's a recent cartoon (LA Times, Nov. 6, 1996). Sorry I can't draw the pictures: US-based radio interviewer (a man): "So Janet... what do CANADIANS think about our elections?" Canadian newspaperwoman (Janet): "YOUR ELECTIONS? It's all about YOU isn't it? Your elections... Your Olympics... Your apple pie... What about your largest trading partner? Canada is in danger of splitting up... "And all you can talk about is YOU YOU YOU! What about me me ME? I've had enough! I WANT A DIVORCE!!" Radio interviewer: "Is that ALLOWED in NAFTA?" -- "Us & Them" by Wiley Miller and Susan Dewar. I thought that "Us & Them" referred to men & women. But it also refers to USers and Canadians. It's the only cross-border cartoon strip I've seen. (Lynne Johnson's "For Better or For Worse" is purely Canadian.) and now back to grading tests... in pen-l solidarity, Jim Devine [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Econ. Dept., Loyola Marymount Univ. 7900 Loyola Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90045-8410 USA 310/338-2948 (daytime, during workweek); FAX: 310/338-1950 "It takes a busload of faith to get by." -- Lou Reed.
[PEN-L:6808] Re: revolutionary ecological fiction
Thanks Blair -- Haven't read it, and going out to buy it (them) now. Larry Shute At 01:24 PM 10/20/96 -0700, you wrote: >Anyone else red I mean read the sci-fi trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson, RED >MARS, GREEN MARS, BLUE MARS? I just finished the first book, RED MARS, and >it's very good: politics, economics, ecology, and revolution. Here are a >couple of brief passages folks might find interesting, all excerpted from >one large discussion occupying a few pages sequentially: >
[PEN-L:6556] Rough estimate of cost of living increase since 1990?
Friends, Does anyone have a rough estimate of the cost of living increase since 1990? CPI in California would be best. Sorry, but I'm too groggy now to WEB search. Thanks. In solidarity. Larry Shute
[PEN-L:6382] Query: ACE, PEW Trust, Cornerstones
Friends, Can anyone help me with sources and information concerning: ACE -- The American Council on Education; PEW Trust; and the Cornerstones Project in the Cal State University System which Chancellor Munitz is pushing so much. I believe that Cornerstones comes from PEW, but yesterday, someone said no. I fear these are all agents of reaction attempting to "restructure" the university and bring "business" into the picture. If this is not of general interest, please reply to my e-mail address below. I'm in a running battle with administrations bent on dismantling the higher education system put in place after WWII. Thanks. Larry Shute ---- Laurence Shute <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Department of Economics Voice: 909.869.3850 California State Polytechnic University, Pomona 3801 West Temple Avenue Pomona, CA 91768-4070 USA FAX: 909.869.6987
Sunk Costs and Nike and Captialism
The classic work on sunk costs is John Maurice Clark's The Economics of Overhead Costs published in 1923. I wish more people would read the book, ignoring the mild tone. In my HO it's one of the seminal books of this century. Clark clearly points out the "discovery" of overhead costs and the implications that this has for the MC=MR type of thinking. Among his bon mots: "Discrimination is the secret of efficiency" -- with respect to using the overhead that modern capitalism builds. As Clark points out, his book is about unused capacity -- waste. Capacity which capitalism can never use. In solidarity, Larry Shute -- Laurence Shute Department of Economics California State Polytechnic University, Pomona Tel: (909) 869-3850 Internet: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sunk Costs and Nike and Captialism
The classic work on sunk costs is John Maurice Clark's The Economics of Overhead Costs published in 1923. I wish more people would read the book, ignoring the mild tone. In my HO it's one of the seminal books of this century. Clark clearly points out the "discovery" of overhead costs and the implications that this has for the MC=MR type of thinking. Among his bon mots: "Discrimination is the secret of efficiency" -- with respect to using the overhead that modern capitalism builds. As Clark points out, his book is about unused capacity -- waste. Capacity which capitalism can never use. In solidarity, Larry Shute -- Laurence Shute Department of Economics California State Polytechnic University, Pomona Tel: (909) 869-3850 Internet: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
