re 5161 >Rakesh and others, > >I wonder if the essential threads referred to here as well as other crucial >interventions presupposed for the topic could be identified once by number >or at least month and year? > >Howard Hi Howard, In his OPE 4018 on 10/8/2000, Allin provided an iterative solution to the Bortkiewicz/Sweezy transformation equations; I argued in 4379 on 10/31/2000 and 4400 on 11/1/2000 and then 4404 and 4406 that Allin had chosen the wrong invariance condition and that it's possible to maintain both equalities while maintaining only one invariance condition (the crux of my argument is that the sum of surplus value should not be expected to remain invariant in the transformation since that would imply an adding up theory of price--parts of this argument were reiterated in this month's 5127 and 5159 in which I argued that a modification of the sum of surplus value in the transformation does no damage to the thesis that live labor is the sole source of surplus value). In OPE 5982 on 2/19/01, Allin provided an illuminating discussion of the implications of Marx's argument that there are two reasons why the value of a commodity differs from its price of production. He clearly lays out why this poses a problem for the interpretation of constant capital advanced by Alejandro and Fred. Allin had initially advanced these points five years ago. For Fred's and Alejandro's important views, it would probably be best to read their recently published work. Fred has a piece in the (I believe) penultimate Review of Radical Political Economy and Alejandro has a piece in International Journal of Political Economy Winter 1998-99, vol 28, no 4. All the best, Rakesh ps I looked up your fascinating analysis of Pashukanis in Rethinking Marxism (vol 5, no1, Spring 1992); it would be to our great advantage if you and Chris Arthur were to discuss your critique on this list. I am happy that you have joined this discussion, and look forward to learning from you.
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