From: Andrew Brown (Andrew@lubs.leeds.ac.uk)
Date: Thu Nov 07 2002 - 06:56:53 EST
meant for the list.... ------- Forwarded message follows ------- Date sent: Thu, 7 Nov 2002 11:55:03 +0000 From: clyder@gn.apc.org To: Andrew@lubs.leeds.ac.uk Subject: Re: [OPE-L:7933] Re: relation of value to organic composition of capital > > > > You are right that the TCC cannot properly be compared across > time or place. Nevertheless one would want to be able to say that as > capitalism progresses labour saving technology is the norm, which is > equivalent to saying that the TCC rises. Marx uses the phrase 'mass' > of means of production thus one could measure the vector of means of > production by literally commensurating in terms of mass but this is > crude at best. Simon suggested an index in terms of constant prices > of the means of production. But this rather goes against the > 'spirit' of Marx's TCC notion which is supposed to be independent of > value altogether. Yes but if the technical composition is a vector what does it mean to say the mass is increasing. What if one component goes up and another goes down, has the 'mass' increased or decreased? Use of historical cost data may provide a way round this, but not when the components of the means of production did not exist in the past. How can you compare the 'mass' of jet airliners against that of steam trains, if you are comparing the technical composition of capital now with that in the 1920s. > Previously, I termed the OCC > an 'index' of the TCC. However, in light of your point, I would want > to modify this to call the OCC a 'value-assessment', or > 'value-reflex' of the TCC (Alfredo uses these latter terms). This > indicates that the OCC does more than merely reflect a pre-given and > well-defined quantity. > > Jerry, I agree with Simon, except that I wouldn't use a price index > at all when considering the TCC, as explained above. > > Many thanks, > > Andy > > ------- End of forwarded message -------
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