(OPE-L) The Paradox of Routledge

From: gerald_a_levy (gerald_a_levy@MSN.COM)
Date: Wed Dec 03 2003 - 15:54:47 EST


Riccardo wrote:

> Piero Sraffa: his life, thought and cultural heritage, Routledge <snip,JL>
> The new book is, like JPP, a very slim book. However,
> knowing Routledge and being an hardback, I guess it is also very
> expensive.
=========================

I did a "Google" search and discovered that Roncaglia's book is being
sold:

a) new as a hardcover

price range:  $62  -  $101

b) used as  a hardcover

can be purchased for $39 and up.

c) new as  an  electronic book

price range: $80 -- $107

==========================

Putting aside b) -- since the market for used commodities is a different
market than the market for 'new' commodities -- we can observe the
following perversity which I will label --

*THE PARADOX OF ROUTLEDGE*

*The paradox stated*:  the price of the new e-book is often higher
than the price of the new hardcover book even though the cost
to produce and reproduce the e-book should be considerably
lower than the cost to produce the hardcover version.
============================

* What accounts for this perverse relationship?

* How can the 'Paradox of Routledge' be explained from differing
       theoretical perspectives?

* What is the individual and social value of Roncaglia's book when
        alternative technologies and labor power input (and thus differing
        amounts of c and v) are required to produce this commodity?

In solidarity, Jerry


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