From: Philip Dunn (pscumnud@DIRCON.CO.UK)
Date: Tue Feb 08 2005 - 16:55:07 EST
Ah Hah! A *joint* production problem. Quoting glevy@PRATT.EDU: > A message sent on July 7 to Kapital_Gang@yahoogroups.com by > redkronstad. What is the answer to the "Paradox of Rib Tips"? > > In solidarity, Jerry > > ======================================================== > Comrades, > > 4th of July and I was eating BBQ at my brother's and I was thinking about > the Law of Value. > > Now, as I understand it, the value (v) of a commodity is the sum > total of the congealed labor in it in the form of dead labor > (constant capital =means of production = previous labors) or (c) > congealed alongside the paid amount (value) of living labor (v) which > goes on off into in its production plus the surplus value (s) which is > the non-paid portion of said living labor. Or > v = c + v + s or k + s where k = (c + v) > > This, of course, is notwithstanding the transformation of this value (in > Vol 1, Chap IX) into price of production (Pp) (in Vol 3, Chap IX) such > that > > v = (c + v) x (1 + P') or k(1 + P') > > where P' is the general rate of profit > > And this, in spite of the errors inherent in the simplification that is > the above, is similarly, > not withstanding. > > Yeah, as I munched, I was ruminating on the Law of Value. > > Now, as I see it, the difference between ribs and rib tips, aside from > > The texture (Quality: of no importance in the below) > > The size (Quantity: of some importance in the below) > > The cost (Quantity: of prime importance in the below) > > As I visualize it the only essential thing that really differentiates > ribs from rib tips is the swipe of the knife that separates the whole rib > into rib and rib tips. That's it. The very same act, the swipe of the > cutting tool, 'creates' ribs and simultaneously creates rib tips. > > Now, let us look at their 'values' as defined above. > > In any given pig there are would be ribs and rib tips existing, > cohabiting alongside each other as the pig's ribs. In the very same pig > they are > > 1. Bought or born into ownership (c in the form of invested > capital) > > 2. Sheltered (c in the form of fixed capital) > > 3. Fed (c in the form of circulating capital) > > 4. Tended (by v in the form of labor engaged in what could > be called > Production Process A . > > 5. Slaughtered (by v in Production Process B) and > > 6. Separated into ribs and rib tips (by v in Production > Process C.) > > At every step these two erstwhile commodities share identical costs of > production. And yet, in spite of the fact that there is a greater weight > per pig of ribs than rib tips, at any given BBQ stand a, say, pound of > ribs will cost you more than a pound of rib tips. Why? > > Best, > > Red Kronstadt > Philip Dunn
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