[PEN-L:6908] Off Limits: USA
Thanks Michael, I take this one! ...and write you immediately, before you go picnic! Now that you say it, I am ashamed that I never introduced myself!!! The truth is that I entered into the list as a 'passive observer', whith the single intention of learning and getting a relief feeling that there are *still* some leftists cromagnon species somewhere in the world... Soon after, I got 'enthusiastic' with some ongoing discussions and ... intruded without being introduced!!! Very briefly, I am from Uruguay and for 'obvious reasons' I rushed out in the 1970s. From Ecuador, I moved then to Spain, then Italy, now The Netherldands. I say this because if you are going to have 'days off' per continent (which I do *not* agree, of course), better 'classified' me in the third world rather than in Europe (moreover, in the Netherlands they use a sort of barbaric language that I can hardly understand; so do not ask me questions about...) With some years of direct involvement in 'left oriented popular movements' in my background, mixed with (uncompleted) studies of pure mathematics and philosopy, I ended up, at present, trying to finish a PhD in Economics while doing some teaching/research assistanship. As to my 'interests' are concerned, I just feel at easy with the way things go in Pen-l. Sometimes, when subjects are too much into specific US affaires, I still over-read and, after confirming my ignorance, I delete. But in most of the times, I learn from the way discussions are tackled and new aspects come to the fore. Sharing bibliographical references, sylabus, methodological approaches, debating on theoretical grounds, having arguments on current issues, etc. is very useful to me. Obviously, I have a preference for issues that concern directly the third world; but, overall speaking, in the 'global context' we are submerged, there is little that would not influence in one way or another, at the end, the lifes of people in the third world (and viceversa). I have to admit that 'I have had it' with the international financial institutions (WB, IMF, IADBs, etc.), because of their overwhelming pressure on the third world, but *also* because I believe they are terribly effective and dangerous at proliferating the most orthodox mainstream economics, all over the world (at the level of politics, but also research and teaching). And this worries me, be it for its present *and also* its long term impact... Now, looking forward for the rest of the day (including the 'rest overs' from those folks who went picnic!) Salud, Alex Alex Izurieta E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Institute of Social Studies P.O. Box 29776 2502 LT The Hague Tel. 31-70-4260480 Fax. 31-70-4260.755 4260.799
[PEN-L:6909] Re: that toothpaste
At 5 pm on Friday Chuck said:
I heard that the Fed is putting interest rates up. Didn't know
who said it, but one rumour is enough to keep us going for
another day
whatdyamean. i also heard that Clinton changed toothpaste brands
yesterday. Maybe he knew something we didn't then?
later
bobbie
univ. of washington
yeh i heard it to.
randy
uni of california
he used to use stripe non-flouride, but now since he has been
listening to bartok, he has got sophisticated and evidently went to
that new gee-whiz brand.
hope this helps
Cindy Lu
Federal Reserve
Chicago
hey, cindy
got any news on those rates?
Danny Jones Junior III
Americans for Truth
Dear Pen-L
i am from australia and i would like to talk about global american
imperialism.
Kind Regards
Bill
Hey man, chuck here. Which state of the US of A is australia in. Haven't heard
of that one?
Chuck
American Foundation for World Studies
Uni of Mass.
and then micheal had to come along and put a dampener on the conversation. but
i guess we will all find out everything ...surely the issues will burn for
longer than the next 24 hours. so now the philistines move in and take over
pen-l.
well alex g'day mate. what do you want to talk about. Californian electoral
hopes for clinton. where's that anyway?
anyway at the moment i am working on my phillips curve book and several papers
that arise. i am going to florence to talk about european unemployment in
november. the prevailing wisdom over there (exemplified by the LSE-Oxford mafia
- try reading Layard, nickell and jackman) emphasises supply side factors -
still. innappropriate benefit systems, excess tax rates, real wage expectations
that don't match trends in productivityand they couch all stuff in terms of
of so-called hysteretic systems (which make them sound different to the banal
but related new classical nonsense). and they do have certain concessions for
AD deficiency.
my line is that there has never been a time when governments couldn't decrease
unemployment with fiscal and monetary policy if they tried. so why is un so
high? b/c everyone has been persuaded that inflation is an enemy and so
governments have deliberately allowed un to remain high. the persistence is
nothing more than the longer term effects of deficient demand. and growth
bursts haven't been long enough to fully absorb the pool.
so why is inflation the evil? it isn't. it is a convenient tool used by the
bosses to keep a RAU up at desirable levels. profits might not be as high as
they could be if full capacity was the norm, but the hegemony of the cappos is
less under threat and the un. has allowed them to systematically destroy the
unions and turn them into a sickenly weak divided self-destructive movement
unable to capture the needs and spirit of the women and youth.
my own work shows how incomes policy clearly controls inflation in times when
growth is above (the pitiful) average. in oz, IPs work. when they have been
relaxed or modified to resemble free market bargaining, wages growth has been
way above the IP periods. one question for europe and that little joint to the
north east of us is why do IPs work here and not there?
i am also pushing this line that governments have a strong role to play. the
problem we have talked about before and i have been sort of out there as usual
not in the mainstream of pen-l.
too little AD - poor jobs performance.
too much - the environment dies.
the world can't cope with AD levels common in OZ or the USA.
so what can we do. we used to teach expenditure-switching strategies to get us
out of trade deficit/unempl dilemmas. well in a way that is what i say again.
the 1980s period of new classicana left us with a legacy of a rising rump of
RAU. people who are dispossessed. it also left us with a lot of privatised
public assets, lower public spending and lower taxes.
we need more AD to get this rump offering value. but we can't have it in the
private (polluting) sector.
the challenge for government policy is to create value among the bottom 20
percent. get them generating value in community-based green employment.
this means we abandon the gainful work classification. redefine
unemployment-employment.
i don't go for shawgi type revolutions anymore. the time is passed for that. we
have to sneak up on them. but meanwhile the world is dying from pollution. the
sneaking up has to start now.
so that is the stuff that i am throwing the hardest econometrics at right now.
it is looking good from my angle and will come out in print early in 1998
(edward elgar).
kind regards
bill
--
## William F. Mitchell
### Head of Economics Department
#University of Newcastle
New South Wales, Australia
###* E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
###Phone: +61 49 215065
# ## ###+61 49 215027
Fax: +61 49 216919
[PEN-L:6910] Re: Off Limits: USA
Obviously, I have a preference for issues that concern directly
the third world; but, overall speaking, in the 'global context' we
are submerged, there is little that would not influence in one way
or another, at the end, the lifes of people in the third world (and
viceversa). I have to admit that 'I have had it' with the international
financial institutions (WB, IMF, IADBs, etc.), because of their
overwhelming pressure on the third world, but *also* because I
believe they are terribly effective and dangerous at proliferating
the most orthodox mainstream economics, all over the world (at the
level of politics, but also research and teaching). And this worries
me, be it for its present *and also* its long term impact...
Beste Alex
hoe gaat het u? ik hoop dat je zijn wel. (i can add all those strange dutch
sounds too if you like).
so when were you ever enamoured with SAPs? how could they ever do the world any
good when the US President gets to appoint the WB President and the US
dominates both institutions?
i don't know of a single country that has benefitted from the programmes
(either IMF and/or WB). why should they? they are just orthodox economic
policy.
what amazes me is how little mapping there is b/tw the disasters of SAP
experiments and the mainstream of our profession. if i banged my head up
against the wall once, i might attribute the pain to some random occurrence.
twice i might start getting clever and three times i would get it i think.
how many countries have gone under SAP misery since 1980? 80 or so. when are
these bastards going to get it. the evidence is in. labour markets don't work
like they think. the programmes don't work.
btw, alex, isn't it good that the spelling has improved on pen-l today. we
finally spell labour right, programmes...etc.
anyway,
kind regards
bill
--
## William F. Mitchell
### Head of Economics Department
#University of Newcastle
New South Wales, Australia
###* E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
###Phone: +61 49 215065
# ## ###+61 49 215027
Fax: +61 49 216919
## http://econ-www.newcastle.edu.au/~bill/billyhp.html
"only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned
and the last fish been caught will we realise we cannot eat money."
(Cree Indian saying...circa 1909)
[PEN-L:6911] the IFIs and the like
I've written: I have to admit that 'I have had it' with the international financial institutions (WB, IMF, IADBs, etc.) Bill said: so when were you ever enamoured with SAPs? Never! nooi! nunca! mai! jamais! What I meant was that I screened almost every relevant piece written by or about them (well, just a bit, which I used to count by kilos and not by pages, in any case...), to try 'understanding' what the reasons are of their success in the academia, while continous failure in the real world. But... I failed. The only thing I could 'understand' is that -more at the level of the political economy, at a 'global scale'- the interests IFIs are serving are so huge that it will not be easy to beat them down in the near future. My only 'hopes' are in two tracks: a) empowerment at the grass root level; b) strenghtening of alternative theoretical propositions. And it is in this respect that I am still amazed: I cannot (yet) cope with the fact that mainstream thinking has been so easily adopted everywhere (or almost) just 'for free'... Anyway, I think discussion lists as this one would help. I am, however, getting a bit more worried from yesterday's Wolfensohn's speech at the ISS: they are putting lots of energies (and resources!) into building an 'universal classroom + database'. This looks like anticipanting the apocalyptic view of Paul Davidson on the future of economic theory... I hope folks in Pen-L and elsewhere are becoming fully aware of this *very possible* scenario. Beste Alex Bill: hoe gaat het u? ik hoop dat je zijn wel. am sure you have a Ducht novel somewhere there, this is not possible! (btw, it should say: hoe gaat Met u (jou) ) Bill again: how could they ever do the world any good when the US President gets to appoint the WB President and the US dominates both institutions? Hold on!, one thing you may not know is that Wolfensohn, just appointed a year and a half ago as president of the WB, has been, and still is, a member of the board of the Bilderber Group, which is , as you may know, the main designer of the actual world 'order'. The board includes the most influential political and economic elites of the Northen countries. This is a very serious concern... You can check this out in "Nexus Magazine", Vol.3, #1, Dec.95-Jan.96 (which is reproduced in a subdirectory of http://www.peg.apc.org ). I wonder why Australia does not have any 'representative' in the board... Now, have a nice evening, and a nice weekend. We will have to 'resist' a long time still... BTW, do not get enthusiastic about my spelling! It is just a 'colonized mixed'... Salud, A. Alex Izurieta E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Institute of Social Studies P.O. Box 29776 2502 LT The Hague Tel. 31-70-4260480 Fax. 31-70-4260.755 4260.799
[PEN-L:6912] FW: BLS Daily Report
BLS DAILY REPORT, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1996 RELEASED TODAY: Median weekly earnings of the nation's 92.7 million full-time wage and salary workers were $488 in the third quarter of 1996. This was 1.9 percent higher than a year earlier, compared with a gain of 3.0 percent in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers over the same period The number of mass layoffs across the nation declined about 25 percent between the second quarters of 1995 and 1996, BLS says. The number of mass layoffs totaled 1,247 in the second quarter of this year, resulting in job separations for 226,449 workers. Most of the employers who experienced mass layoffs in the second quarter of this year expected to recall the workers involved, with more than half of them anticipating a recall within three months. Most of the layoffs were attributed to "seasonal work," especially for employees of schools and day care services. In mid-November, BLS plans to start releasing brief monthly reports on mass layoffs, BLS economist Patrick Carey said (Daily Labor Report, pages 1,D-1). Partial credit for inflation's low profile this year belongs to America's hefty appetite for imports and the strong dollar, says Maury N. Harris of PaineWebber Inc. So far this year, observes Harris, import prices are down 0.5 percent from a year ago, with nonoil import prices running 2.2 percent below year-earlier levels. By region, prices are down 4.5 percent on imports from Japan and 2.4 percent on imports from emerging Asia A chart is credited to DOL (Business Week, Oct. 28, page 36). DUE OUT ON FRIDAY: Worker Displacement During the Mid-1990s (Based on Revised Estimates)
[PEN-L:6913] Re: rising rate of profit? -Reply
Ok, if we're meant to be heard from the periphery, let's not miss this moment of yankee silence. Patrick in Johannesburg chiming in on Doug's puzzle: Because of the reasons Jim's laid out, I'm less satisfied with relying upon the search for relative and absolute surplus value as the key way of understanding countervailing forces to the tendency of declining profit rates. And likewise I think because of the empirical problems mentioned, the difficulty in relating value categories to positivist measurement techniques, and in any case the shift of profit centres within the "hollow corporation" (from productive circuits of K to financial/merchant circuits), we'll just end up running around in circles saying this or that about declining profit rates. Isn't it more fruitful to explore the two other concepts I've always thought were central to Marx's crisis theory: rising organic composition of K and the overaccumulation problem? In which case, what about also invoking -- instead of countervailing tendencies -- the concept of _displacement_ of crisis tendencies? Some have worked on spatial and temporal displacement, meaning moving the problem of overaccumulation around by generating more intense processes of uneven capitalist geographical development, or moving it through time, both in terms of more rapid turnover time of capital (including speeding-up the work process) as well as displacement into the future using credit and other financial instruments which allow overaccumulation to be mopped up today and, potentially, paid for tomorrow. All of which only keep the problem in motion, growing worse in some ways but always changing form and differentially affecting local/regional/global class alliances, but without yet, it seems, resolving generalised overaccumulation through a widespread (1930s-40s style) devalorisation of the economic deadwood. If there's anything to this conception of crisis, what's still missing is an understanding of scale: how the processes of crisis formation and displacement have inexorably moved from local to global, and how resistance is belatedly following (in various stop-start ways). Likewise, understanding whether the rejigging of accumulation will be a largely local/national process (as in the 1930s on the periphery and late 1940s in the Keynesian world). We've not had a seminal work that builds the uneven development of scale into conceptions of overaccumulation crisis. So, that's what is occupying some of us here in SA -- and in other pockets -- as what were once considered reliable conceptions of functional apartheid-capitalist race-class relations, internal dependency, articulations of modes of production, post-(racial)fordism and all the rest of the failed poli-econ conceptions of the 1960s-80s fall away. Enough theoretical babble. Does this resonate anywhere else? Ciao! Patrick
Re: [PEN-L:6905] Re: I'm afraid to say this...US blackout
How about those who are neither here nor there? That is non-US nationals in the US? Do they get a break or are they lumped together as "people of color" "immigrants who should go back where they came from?::) My two paisas worth: recently on pen-l a number of issues cropped up, one of which had to do with the role of the left in academia or for that matter their role in the larger society. (Of course it goes for the right as well.) If I am not mistaken, Doug in some context (response to Jerry?) brought up the issue about the millionth iteration about the transformation problem, indicating that academics are too distant from some immediate kinds of social issues. I personally could not agree more. Second, Shawgi's postings aside from the general unhappiness over the "propaganda" style messages, touched upon (by Mike Perelman) the more important idea of "Third World" concerns or lack thereof on pen-l. There is nothing, zero, zilch, nada (a la Bush) on the TW (whatever that means) on pen-l, save for some postings by Sid from across the border. There is little discussion over realignment of capitalist centers, issues of technology, its transfer, material transformation, bourgeofication around the world, and as one recent essay by Nigel Harriss put it "the end of the west". Recently New Steel, the industry trade magazine in the US (from Pittsburgh) nominated an Indian company (and its leadership) as the "Steelmaker of the Year." Was this possible even 15 years ago? How do we explain this firm (Ispat) buying mills in Canada, the US, Ireland, Indonesia, Kazakhastan, Trinidad, and Mexico? How do we explain turning around loss-making units into profitable ones? What I am saying where is the more concrete work that I feel ought to be done by economists in general, and certainly I expect that of the left if they are against the more elegant absurdities of the NC theory and methodology. We are living in an era when the face of capitalism is no longer the same. Perhaps this should evoke some response on pen-l. Anthony Anthony P. D'Costa Associate Professor Comparative International Development University of Washington 1103 A Street Tacoma, WA 98402, USA Ph: (206) 552-4462 FAX: (206) 552-4414
[PEN-L:6914] Re: Off Limits: USA
We have probably 100 people from outside of the U.S. We get quite a bit from Canada, some from OZ or NZ, and occassionaly something from Europe. Let's hear from you. -- Michael Perelman Although I am temporarily living in the US (for a year now, came as a visiting scholar right after my graduation), I am a Turk (European? or Third World? or Middle East country?). So I am sure there are some people like me in the list, making the number(100) higher than suggested. Anyway, I think the pen-l is going well. For my part, I wouldn't like to distribute some days to people according to their geographical origins. And there is no reason to ask or force people to write some issues from their own countries. I believe that if anybody feels so, they will write whatever the subject is. In a world where all issues are so interrelated, it is clear that all experiences are wellcome in this list. I think what counts is to feel "at home" in pen-l and to keep the list alive. It is very important to know that there are people thinking same way you do and asking the same questions. And it is such a relief to know that whenever you need some information or you want to take part on ongoing discussions or just to discuss something (related to politics, economics, socialism), you can simply write to pen-l and get answers, responses. That is very important in order to not to feel *alone* in any sense of the word. Perhaps, it seems that US originated members dominate the list, but I don't see any problem with that. The ways to intervene and express the opinions are not close, so if anyone wants to write, she/he will do it. Don't worry, we(the others!) will also raise our voices but not because of geographical reasons but because of the issues themselves. In solidarity, Dilek Cetindamar Karaomerlioglu Research Associate The Center for Regional Economic Issues Weatherhead School of Managament Case Western Reserve University 311 Wickenden Hall Cleveland, Ohio 44106 Tel:+ 216- 368 5540 Fax:+ 216- 368 5542 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] internet: http://weatherhead.cwru.edu/dept/rei/dxk15.html
[PEN-L:6915] Re: Off Limits: USA
This is a very good proposal to give us one day a week for picnic. I would like to add to his proposal this one: We should have one day a week "European Forum," One day "Asian Forum," and one day "Third World Forum." We shoud set aside one day to air each forum. The US posters should be silent just one day a week so that we can hear other voices and other peoples' concerns. Fikret Okay the netherlands is in europe - i know that. japan is in asia - i know that ghana is in the (i hate this colonialist term) "the third world" - i know that so where is OZ svp? in all three probably! kind regards bill I am sorry for the omission. We'll make a fourth category for Australia/New Zealand. Fikret +Fikret Ceyhun voice: (701)777-3348 work + +Dept. of Economics (701)772-5135 home + +Univ. of North Dakota fax:(701)777-5099 + +University Station, Box 8369e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] + +Grand Forks, ND 58202/USA +
[PEN-L:6916] Canada: Me and Barbara Amiel
Only Canadian subscribers will be aware that Barbara Amiel is the right-wing columnist wife of Conrad Black, owner of the majority of Canadian newspapers. Today, I had the unexpected honour of pinch hitting for Barbara's opinion column in the Vancouver Sun. Don't be alarmed, "Barbara Amiel will return next week." a note assures at the bottom of my opinion piece. The headline for my piece came out with an appropriately neo-liberal sounding slant: "The jobless rate will stay high until government eases payroll taxes." The headline is not the best summary of my argument, which is not that payroll tax rates are *too high*, but that the taxes are *regressive* in their structure and that it is the regressivity of the structure that kills jobs. Elsewhere in today's Sun is the news that the Pope endorses Darwin's theory of evolution and that Conrad Black's Hollinger Inc. has offered to purchase 51% of the shares of Southam (owners of the Vancouver Sun). Another story highlights a report released by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business called for reducing payroll taxes to stimulate hiring and complaining about the current "coddled generation" of job seekers. Me and Barbara Amiel Freedom's just another word for nothing left to loose nothing ain't worth nothing but it's free Feeling good was easy, Lord, when Barbara sang the blues Feeling good was good enough for me Good enough for me and Barbara Amiel... Regards, Tom Walker, [EMAIL PROTECTED], (604) 669-3286 The TimeWork Web: http://mindlink.net/knowware/worksite.htm
[PEN-L:6917] Canada: the discipline of the marketplace
What would happen if we imposed the discipline of the market on the ideas of those whose mantra is 'competitiveness'? More precisely, how willing would *investors* be in literally buying into policy ideas like the "laffer curve", the the 'natural' or non-accelerating inflation rate of unemployment (NAIRU), or IMF 'structural adjustment'? If there was a futures market in these ideas how many supply-side prophets and pundits would be willing to put their money where their mouth is? We may have a chance to find out. Canada's C.D. Howe Institute is one of those ubiquitous corporate-sponsored think tanks that have sprung up to extoll the virtues of the free market and to lobby governments for tax breaks for the wealthy and barriers to trade union activity. Over the past several years, C.D. Howe has published a series of book length supply-side tracts under the series title of "The Social Policy Challenge. William G. Watson is co-editor of the series and a frank advocate of right-wing economic policies. I have engaged in two email debates with Bill Watson (he's also a fun guy to debate with) and two days ago challenged him to a $100,000 wager that I can develop a workable, non-coercive, non-inflationary and revenue neutral plan to lower unemployment by redistributing overtime work to create new jobs. I am awaiting his reply. Essentially, the wager would work like a futures market. My wager with Bill would form the initial capitalization for a policy idea company whose stock could then trade on the market like any other publicly held company. Perhaps Doug Henwood could offer some technical suggestions? I realize the concept of an Ideas Futures market is not orthodox Marxism, but then I've never claimed to be orthodox. Robin Hanson of Cal Tech pioneered the Ideas Future market. Last year, Robin was involved in an essay contest on "Privatization: has it gone far enough?" that Michael Perelman was kind enough to publicize on the PEN-L list. I entered the contest and won the $1000 prize. Now I'd like to up the ante to something really worthwhile! Below is my message to Bill Watson challenging him to the wager: Bill Watson (editor of the C.D. Howe Institute's Social Policy Challenge series) raised some thoughtful caveats to my suggestion that removing ceilings on payroll taxes may help reduce unemployment. Bill's objections shouldn't be hard to accomodate, where appropriate. I'll go through them in the order he raised them. (Bill's caveats are included in full at the bottom of this message). 1. I agree that payroll taxes are not the only, or the most substantial fixed, non-wage costs of labour. They are one component over which the government has clear jurisdiction and can act decisively. Changes in the fixed cost structure of payroll taxes could provide a model for revising other fixed, benefit plans and federal action could signal to employers, unions and insurance companies that 'hours neutral' benefit plans are on the agenda. 2. As you point out, it would be hard to say how much of a boost in employment would result from removing ceilingsb hb on payroll taxes. The effect would be gradual and indirect, just as the effect of ceilings has been gradual and indirect. This is one of the features of the proposal that appeals to me -- no 'big bang', just 'getting better all the time'. 3. It's questionable whether firms "would have to", or even *could*, raise prices as a result of eliminating the tax-free status of overtime -- y'know, global competition and all that. It _is_ management's job to look at their cost structures and adjust the way they operate to minimize those costs. If they're simply absorbing the costs and trying to pass them on, they're not doing their job. Can 'em. 4. I can't agree that "all labour would be more expensive" after the removal of payroll tax ceilings. In fact, removal of the ceilings could allow for lowering overall rates and, thus, cheapening low-wage labour. It's not clear to me why high-income earners deserve to be subsidized by low-income earners -- other than that those who perform high-income labour are better able to influence the political decision-makers. 5. Linkage between benefits and contributions is the most substantial objection to removing the ceilings. I have three comments on this issue. First, linkage, as it is presently enforced, is entirely hypothetical -- in practice there isn't much real connection between what people pay into programs and what they get out. I'll restrict myself to one example: after 13 continuous years employed in the high performance auto parts industry my neighbour was laid off and is entitled to 42 weeks "employment" insurance benefits, the same as if he'd worked, and contributed for a year. Second, if the linkage between an employee's contributions and benefits is hypothetical, the linkage between an _employer's_ contribution and the employee's benefit level is even more tenuous. I've heard vague arguments about employers benefiting
[PEN-L:6918] Re: I'm afraid to say this...
At 9:01 PM 10/24/96, bill mitchell wrote: 4. why censoring the USA for the whole world is a breakthrough. Though of course we wouldn't even be talking to each other like this if it weren't for the Pentagon. Doug -- Doug Henwood Left Business Observer 250 W 85 St New York NY 10024-3217 USA +1-212-874-4020 voice +1-212-874-3137 fax email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] web: http://www.panix.com/~dhenwood/LBO_home.html
[PEN-L:6919] Re: I'm afraid to say this...
4. why censoring the USA for the whole world is a breakthrough.
Though of course we wouldn't even be talking to each other like this if it
weren't for the Pentagon.
there is a fallacy in this argument Doug. you assume there is a uniqueness to
phenomena. but path dependency can be non-unique and depends vitally on
starting values.
in this case we communicate via email b/c of the beginnings of the net in
military intelligence in the usa. but if that hadn't have happened it still
might have happened via another path.
so is tomorrow over?
kind regards
bill
--
## William F. Mitchell
### Head of Economics Department
#University of Newcastle
New South Wales, Australia
###* E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
###Phone: +61 49 215065
# ## ###+61 49 215027
Fax: +61 49 216919
## http://econ-www.newcastle.edu.au/~bill/billyhp.html
"only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned
and the last fish been caught will we realise we cannot eat money."
(Cree Indian saying...circa 1909)
[PEN-L:6920] Mexican oil development
Can anyone advise me or direct me on how to be advised on how Mexico has used its oil over the decades? Did they historically view it mainly as a cash cow, or did they try to develop domestic spinoff industries? Did debt come to claim so large a share of oil revenues that the decision was made for them? Doug -- Doug Henwood Left Business Observer 250 W 85 St New York NY 10024-3217 USA +1-212-874-4020 voice +1-212-874-3137 fax email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] web: http://www.panix.com/~dhenwood/LBO_home.html
[PEN-L:6921] Textbook help
I recently received the following message asking for help in finding suitable textbooks. If you think you can make good suggestions, please sent it to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] I am a post-grad. student at Institute of Political Science in Aarhus, Denmark, currently involved in a committee set up to revise the curriculum in economics on our undergraduate course. Inevitably, the course is the usual schooling in neo-classical orthodoxy, containing no self-awareness or self-criticism. Alternative approaches are not even criticised, they are simply not 'disclosed' at all. Since the last remnants of Marxist economics was removed 4 years ago, the subject has become very one-dimensional as it is tought here. Our group of students is therefore on the lookout for suitable articles or texts which can serve as an introduction to a) the problems of neo-classical economics and b) the main alternatives to it. Our aim is to put neo-classical economics into perspective by positioning it in relation to other traditions and approaches. This, we believe will make it both more interesting, and more 'honest' in that the basic premises and flaws of economics can come to light. My request is therefore to ask you whether you know any good critical introductions to economics. Ideally this would be a 'text-book' format introduction to the diversity of approaches in economics. If such a book does not exist (and I fear that it doesn't) second best would be key artilcles introduing problems and alternative approaches. I should be very grateful for any help you are able to offer on this subject. Yours sincerely, Olaf Corry. Eric Nilsson Department of Economics California State University San Bernardino, CA 92407 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[PEN-L:6922] Re: Off Limits: USA
As it is still shortly before midnight in Germany, I might as well get in my two-cents worth - although I don't fully fit the requirements: I am sort of not at home here in Germany and half not at home in the States. Since I do go back an forth a lot, I see so many connections that could be made between what is going on, and how people are being marginalized, here, there, and in between. I would, therefore, suggest we attempt to show an awareness of these connections in what we write rather than merely making "special reports" from outside the U.S. Marianne Brun
Re: [PEN-L:6920] Mexican oil development
From what I understand, the oil was seen as cash cow of sorts, since the confidence of borrowing from the international market was based on potenial oil revenues. Certainly there was an attempt to integrate backard industrially, as the structure of Mexico's industrial sector would indicate and in general Mexico's technological capability relatively to other Latin American economies. Profiligacy was also rampant, more so in the case of Venezuela and Nigeria. My Peruvian friend always pointed out that any Venezuelan who could make a thumb impression came to the US to study:) But demand constraint in Mexico and the subsequent fall in oil prices and interest rate hikes caught them napping, if you will. The usual distortions resulting from import-substitution strategy were also present. Anthony P. D'Costa Associate Professor Comparative International Development University of Washington 1103 A Street Tacoma, WA 98402, USA Ph: (206) 552-4462 FAX: (206) 552-4414 On Fri, 25 Oct 1996, Doug Henwood wrote: Can anyone advise me or direct me on how to be advised on how Mexico has used its oil over the decades? Did they historically view it mainly as a cash cow, or did they try to develop domestic spinoff industries? Did debt come to claim so large a share of oil revenues that the decision was made for them? Doug -- Doug Henwood Left Business Observer 250 W 85 St New York NY 10024-3217 USA +1-212-874-4020 voice +1-212-874-3137 fax email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] web: http://www.panix.com/~dhenwood/LBO_home.html
[PEN-L:6923] Re: I'm afraid to say this...
Doug Henwood wrote: Though of course we wouldn't even be talking to each other like this if it weren't for the Pentagon. No, Doug, first things first: SPUTNIK -- October 4, 1957 -- *then* the establishment of the Advanced Research Projects Administration (ARPA) spawner of ARPANET, begetter of internet. Which gives me the perfect pretext for a quote I just can't resist sharing: "Meanwhile, technology is speeding up communication's stepchild, the mails. Guided missles loaded with letters instead of war heads are being planned for the distant future. After their successful launching and arrival, new sorting systems now in use will still be indispensible." From Life Magazine, November 11, 1957: "Tomorrow's Life Today: Man's everyday world" Regards, Tom Walker, [EMAIL PROTECTED], (604) 669-3286 The TimeWork Web: http://mindlink.net/knowware/worksite.htm
[PEN-L:6924] Fwd: afghan women
I would urge everyone on pen-l to fill the white house email with messages about the inhuman treatment being unilaterally inflicted on Afghan women -- messages about same follow. you can all email Clinton at: [EMAIL PROTECTED] maggie coleman [EMAIL PROTECTED] - Forwarded message: From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Barbara R. Bergmann) Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Reply-to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: 96-10-25 14:42:06 EDT Femecon subscribers may wish to e-mail the President at [EMAIL PROTECTED] a message asking him not to send any aid to Afghanistan so long as severe human rights violations against women continue. Maybe if they get several hundred messages from us, it will make a difference. What follows is a message from the Afghan women's network: --- Forwarded Message Follows --- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (pamela collet) To:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: AFghan women's Network op/ed Date: Thu, 17 Oct 96 23:02:19 GMT +5:00 Organization: Save The Children Reply-to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (pamela collet) Kabul, the largest prison for women in the world by the Afghan WomenOs Network, Islamabad, Pakistan Where can we find the words from our hearts to share with the readers the suffering of the people of Kabul, especially the women and girls? Kabul has become the worldOs largest prison for women in the world. The women and girls have been confined to their homes by the military faction known as the Taliban. Women are experiencing the gradual death of despair. They see no future for themselves or their daughters. The female population has been ordered to stay at home by the Taliban. They are forbidden to work. Women have always worked in Kabul . They are necessary for the functioning of the city. Most of the teachers in Kabul are women. Therefore, many boys have no teachers. Women and girls are banned from attending any schools or educational institutions. Female patients in all hospitals were ordered by the Taliban to go home. Women cannot be treated by male doctors. Some women doctors and nurses have been allowed to return to work , but women cannot work with their male colleagues. Female medical workers must wear a complete covering from head to toe, known as the burqa, making it very difficult to treat their patients. If women have to go out for food, medicine or other daily needs, they must cover themselves with a burqa and must be accompanied by a male family member. Even being covered completely is no protection. One woman was beaten because she was not wearing socks. Another woman who lifted her clothing to jump over a stream was beaten with a heavy rod by the Taliban. Some people say that the Taliban have brought peace to Kabul. Taliban have put the women in the prison of their homes. This is not peace. Women have no weapons. They are being attacked and beaten by Taliban for no reason except the fact that they are women. This is not peace. This is war against women and girls. Whatever you bring by force cannot mean peace. We are a group of Afghan women living in exile in Pakistan.As mothers and sisters we do not want to see our children soaked in blood. We do not want our daughters to grow up illiterate. We want to bring peace and human rights to our country, especially for women and girls. Peace means respect for peopleOs human rights. We ask all the readers to tell your government, the United Nations and the international human rights organizations that Afghan women must have the right to work outside their homes, that women and girls must have the right to education and that women and girls must be able to leave their homes without being harassed and beaten. We need your help to bring the real peace to our homeland, Afghanistan. Note: we sent this to Equality Now today who said they would try to get it placed in NY Times or Washington Post - uAccess Signature goes here... - NOTICE FOR JOURNALISTS AND RESEARCHERS: Please ask for written permission from all direct participants before quoting any material posted on FEMECON-L.
[PEN-L:6925] Re: I'm afraid to say this...
Query: Who 'owns' and maintains the internet today? maggie coleman [EMAIL PROTECTED]
