Sraffa and the Labour Theory of Value - a note

Anderaos de Araujo, Fabio (2015): Sraffa and the Labour Theory of Value - a note.

Abstract

An analysis of the invariable measure of prices proposed by the eminent Italian economist Piero Sraffa, who laid the foundations for a new approach in modern economics. Three mathematical appendices are also provided. The first one shows step by step the construction of the Standard Commodity, which is a consistent solution to the transformation of labour values into prices of production. Appendix II is a general numerical example of a price system with two industries which makes the understanding of the distribution of income between wages and profits easier. Using a software spreadsheet, for example, it is possible to make numerical simulations and make comparisons between the results obtained from the Sraffa price system with that obtained from Marx's. The third appendix regards a numerical example of changes in technical progress and its effects on distribution of income. There is also a fourth appendix on the inclusion of rent and interest in Sraffa's price system. This is revised version of the original paper written few years ago.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Sraffa, labour theory of value, Standard Commodity, prices of production, income distribution
• Subjects: A - General Economics and Teaching > A1 - General Economics; A - General Economics and Teaching > A2 - Economic Education and Teaching of Economics

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