Dear Pen-L'rs, Does anyone know of any recent work (last 5-10 years) on estimates of the minimal optimal scale for various manufacturing industries (or agriculture) in the US and/or Europe? I'm trying to document the hunch that returns to scale in industry can be realized at much smaller levels than you would assume by looking at how industry is presently structured. [i.e. that we could decentralize to smaller industrial units if the capitalists didn't get in the way, etc.] Thanks for any and all help. Actually, even much older references would be helpful too. thanks, Thad Thad Williamson National Center for Economic and Security Alternatives (Washington)/ Union Theological Seminary (New York) 212-531-1935 http://www.northcarolina.com/thad
