Crisis and the Poverty of Nations: Two Market Products Which Value Explains Better

Freeman, Alan (1999): Crisis and the Poverty of Nations: Two Market Products Which Value Explains Better. Published in: HIstorical Materialism No. 5 (November 1999): pp. 29-77.

Abstract

This article appeared as ‘Crisis and the Poverty of Nations: Two Market Products Which Value Explains Better’, Symposium on Robert Brenner and the World Crisis, Historical Materialism No.5, Winter 1999, pp 29-77. London: LSE. ISSN 0 9532171 4 0

The original can be referenced at http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/brill/hm/1999/00000005/00000001;jsessionid=3ov2260kgo9po.henrietta

The article demonstrates using empirical data, that the concept of value is required to understand three phenomena, produced by the market, which call its own existence into question.

*(crisis – a sharp and well-defined interruption in growth, accompanied by a fall in money profits, a rise in unemployment, and a sudden fall in asset prices – every 7-12 years;

*general crisis – prolonged 20-40 year phases of relatively slow growth, accompanied by a declining average profit rate, permanent unemployment, economic turbulence and political instability (including war, racism, and rising barbarism) alternating with 15-30 year phases of stable rapid growth.

*long term growth in inequality between nations. The gap between rich and poor countries has grown for a hundred and fifty years almost without remission, accelerating sharply since 1981 at the onset of ‘globalisation’ – the re-construction of a unified world market.

Keywords: crisis, inequality, Brenner, Value, profit rate, long waves, world systems, TSSI, temporalism

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: crisis, inequality, Brenner, Value, profit rate, long waves, world systems, TSSI, temporalism
• Subjects: B - History of Economic Thought, Methodology, and Heterodox Approaches > B5 - Current Heterodox Approaches > B51 - Socialist ; Marxian ; Sraffian; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O3 - Innovation ; Research and Development ; Technological Change ; Intellectual Property Rights > O30 - General; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O1 - Economic Development > O10 - General; B - History of Economic Thought, Methodology, and Heterodox Approaches > B4 - Economic Methodology

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