From: Rakesh Bhandari (bhandari@BERKELEY.EDU)
Date: Thu Jun 08 2006 - 16:23:11 EDT
Fred, The question is how the total mass of surplus value is distributed-- according to a uniform rate of exploitation rule (so that s/v is uniform through the economy) or a uniform profit rate rule (so that s/c+v is uniform across branches). There is no transformation from the economy governed by the first rule to an economy governed by the second rule, from surplus value to profit. Both rules determine ways in which the mass of surplus value could be distributed once it has been produced at an irreducibly macroeconomic level. There is simply no transformation problem. Marx was wrong to suggest otherwise. This seems to be what follows from Lexis' interpretation. Allin and Paul seem to have presented evidence that surplus value is distributed in accordance with neither and both of these rules. How surplus value is distributed is a matter for the study of competition, and it is of course exceedingly complex especially if we look at international trade. There is surely no one simple rule (or as the post Althusserians would say essence) that controls its distribution. But for Lexis the point seems to be that the mass of surplus value is determined at an irreducibly macro level and then distributed in an overwhelmingly complex way downward. He has a very intriguing position with interesting ontological implications, no? Rakesh
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