In message Sat, 16 Sep 1995 17:47:10 -0700,
"John R. Ernst" <ernst@pipeline.com> writes:
> I think one of the points that Mike makes in OPE Concerning Mike's post on
> dependent and independent variables, it seems to me that up to the what
> Marx calls the "period of manufacture", the wage is indeed the independent
> variable and the the rate of accumulation the dependent. Once fixed
> capital is introduced the dependent becomes the imdependent and vice
> versa. Otherwise, why make a big deal out of the two periods?
>
One reason to make the distinction is that it is only when fixed capital
(and the substitution of machinery for living labour) predominates that
capital now constantly reproduces a reserve army and thus reproduces an
essential condition of existence. Put another way, capitalism is not fully
an organic system until it produces its own premises; and this requires the
development of the specifically capitalist mode of production-- machinery and
the factory system.
in solidarity,
mike
---------------------------
Michael A. Lebowitz
Economics Department, Simon Fraser University
Burnaby, B.C., Canada V5A 1S6
Office: (604) 291-4669; Office fax: (604) 291-5944
Home: (604) 255-0382
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e-mail: mlebowit@sfu.ca