Paul C
>> I think that in terms of method it is important to approach the question
>> first from the standpoint of a labour value analysis before we introduce
>> the complications associated with international capital movements and
>> second order effects like different rates of profit in different countries.
> Jerry
>I think we would need to have some discussion about the meaning of what
>you call "second order effects." I'm not convinced that varying rates of
>profit (among firms in) different countries can be described as being
>second-order effects. I guess I would need to hear more of what you mean
>before commenting further.
>
I am suggesting that the method of analysis used in Capital should
be used, by starting out with an analysis at the level of commodity
production in general, and value as it pertains to commodity production,
but with the additional factor of geographical separation of regions,
with different conditons of production introduced.
At this stage, one should assume as Capital I does, the use of a commodity
money rather than a system of credit payments, and one should not initially
assume capitalist relations of production.
The point is that just as commodity production preceeds capitalist production,
international trade preceeds trade between capitalist countries. Once
one has identified the general features of commodity production, one can
go on to analyse their specifically capitalist modification. Similarly,
once one has identified the general features of international trade, including
the origins of mercantile added value (mehrwert, surplus value, what have you),
you can look at how this form of profit interacts with profit arising from
the exploitation of labour power.
Paul Cockshott
wpc@cs.strath.ac.uk
http://www.cs.strath.ac.uk/CS/Biog/wpc/index.html