[OPE-L:399] Re: abstract labor again

Michael Perelman (michael@ecst.csuchico.edu)
Thu, 2 Nov 1995 16:16:20 -0800

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>
> Paul Cockshott;
> For your first question do you want the pragmatic answer or the
> ideal one?
>
> The pragmatic answer is that one uses BEA estimates of capital stock
> at current replacement cost when working on US figures for example.

These data take no account of technical change.

>
> The ideal answer is that one would have access to data on the hours
> currently expended to produce the replacement goods. Of course
> contemporary economic statistics are not that good.
>
No. They are unavailable. Yet without this data, how can you make
the measurements?

> For your second question, can you please clarify what you are asking.
> Are you asking about the value of their labour power or the value
> that they create?
>

How would you allocate the work of the software engineers in a business that
produced a wide range of goods?

-- 
Michael Perelman
Economics Department
California State University
Chico, CA 95929

Tel. 916-898-5321 E-Mail michael@ecst.csuchico.edu