Jerry writes: >>Let's begin by asking: what are all of the
factors that do, in fact, have an effect on the wages for skilled
laborers? [list them] We already know how Marx presents this
question in V1. At that level of abstraction, it was both a
simplifying assumption [appropriate for that level of analysis]
and a reflection of a historical process.<<
Just a warning of a trap, which Jerry has probably not fallen
into. It's important to separate the question of the _value of
skilled labor-power_ (or its wage) from that of the _value
created by skilled labor_. These are separate questions.
My feeling is that in K1, Marx mostly talks about skilled labor
in order to abstract from it: he is developing the concept of
abstract labor (and the argument that capitalism tends to reduce
concrete labors to abstract labor). On this subject, see my
article in CAPITAL & CLASS awhile back (1989).
in ope-l solidarity,
Jim Devine jdevine@lmumail.lmu.edu
Econ. Dept., Loyola Marymount Univ., Los Angeles, CA 90045-2699 USA
310/338-2948 (daytime, during workweek); FAX: 310/338-1950
"Segui il tuo corso, e lascia dir le genti." (Go your own way
and let people talk.) -- K. Marx, paraphrasing Dante A.