[PEN-L] Question about Ecuador

I am interested in studying the experience of Ecuador since it adopted the dollar as its currency in 2000. Apparently the economy grew reasonably well in 2001-2003, but this was largely because gdp fell by almost 6 percent in 1999 and barely grew in 2000. Inflation came down from about 90

Re: [PEN-L] Robert Reich: U.S. dollar heading for a collapse - September 25, 2004

The Reich piece is interesting. Apparently he thinks that the large trade deficit is a problem. The question then is how would Reich respond to the problem. Apparently the combination of a budget surplus, renewed foreign investment in the U.S., and a rebuilt manufacturing sector is all that is

Re: [PEN-L] [Fwd: [Marxism] In Koreas, High Hopes for an Industrial Marriage]

There are a few things to say about the article. First despite what it says the U.S. is attempting to limit the technology used by South Korean companies in the North, arguing that South Korea is party to an agreement restricting technology transfers to countries that sponsor terrorism. It

[PEN-L] the dollar

In the past the dollar greatly benefited in terms of its international value when oil rose in price. We are seeing record highs in the dollar cost of oil and yet it does not seem like this is doing much to strengthn the dollar on international markets. Is it just that the U.S. also imports so

[PEN-L] job announcement again

Sorry to interrupt the general conversation but wanted once again to encourage people who might know of good applicants to encourage them to apply. Thanks, Marty Hart-Landsberg LEWIS CLARK COLLEGE, Portland, OR E0 Macroeconomics The Lewis Clark College Department of Economics invites

Re: [PEN-L] (cross-post) chinese system

I just want to add a brief comment on the China discussion. I certainly agree with Jim C. and Louis P. that China is not a fascist country. That said, as Jim noted in his message, he and I do disagree on what is in fact happening in China. I respect Jim a lot and always read what he writes with

Re: [PEN-L] in hock to the Chinese

I do not see the situation as the U.S. in hock to or dependent on China. One could just as well see the situation as the Chinese are dependent on a steady flow of FDI, increasingly from the U.S., and access to the U.S. market which is where a growing percentage of their output is going. The more

Re: [PEN-L] in hock to the Chinese

Hart-Landsberg wrote: I do not see the situation as the U.S. in hock to or dependent on China. One could just as well see the situation as the Chinese are dependent on a steady flow of FDI, increasingly from the U.S., and access to the U.S. market which is where a growing percentage

Re: [PEN-L] in hock to the Chinese

hairs. mbs -Original Message- From: PEN-L list [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Martin Hart-Landsberg Sent: Wednesday, November 17, 2004 6:57 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [PEN-L] in hock to the Chinese

Re: [PEN-L] Long waves

The recent discussion on pen-l about capitalism and long waves has been narrowed to whether capitalism will suffer a breakdown or major depression. One side appears to be arguing yes. The other side appears to be arguing not likely, that capitalism has and continues to prove highly flexible and

[PEN-L] one year position

Sorry to clutter up the list with non-intellectual matters, but for various reasons we have a one year position available in the department of economics at Lewis and Clark College. The main responsibilities will be teaching intermediate macro economics and principles. If anyone on the list is

[PEN-L] WTO question

Dear Penners, I am looking for some help on WTO related issues. A Ministerial meeting of the WTO will be held in Hong Kong in December 2005. In July 2004, the trade representatives of the developed countries, especially the US and the EU, succeeded in getting what is known as the July Framework

Re: [PEN-L] globalization

This bounced so am trying again. On Mon, 11 Apr 2005, Martin Hart-Landsberg wrote: The most recent BusinessWeek (April 18) has in the Business Outlook section a report on profits. One of the reasons cited for the exceptionally strong continuing profit growth is that more US profits

[PEN-L] Citation check

I wonder if someone can help me with a citation. I am reading an interesting little book called We Are Everywhere. Along with the text that highlights global organizing against neoliberalism there is a running commentary about events/struggles related to globalization since 1994. Under the

Re: [PEN-L] Citation check

, or of the outcome. I'd search under Nader for this. Gene Coyle Martin Hart-Landsberg wrote: I wonder if someone can help me with a citation. I am reading an interesting little book called We Are Everywhere. Along with the text that highlights global organizing against neoliberalism

[PEN-L] labor market flexibility

I would love to hear any thoughts people have on the labor flexibility issue as promoted by the IMF, etc. I am reading an IMF report on the Latin American experience in the post-1980 period. http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/op/238/ In Chapter II, Taking Stock, the report quite explicitly

Re: [PEN-L] labor market flexibility

Just to be clear, I am not advocating promoting the destruction of labor movements or labor laws, not am I confused or surprised by the IMF push to create a labor market most conducive to profits. However, what interests me is that the IMF and its supporting cast have been busy developing indices

Re: [PEN-L] labor market flexibility

in 1996. One consequence is that employment in manufacturing is now on the decline. Of course Korean foreign direct investment in China is soaring. Marty On Wed, 20 Jul 2005, Jim Devine wrote: On 7/20/05, Martin Hart-Landsberg wrote: Just to be clear, I am not advocating promoting

Re: [PEN-L] labor market flexibility

and boost efficiency and overall worker well-being. Marty On Thu, 21 Jul 2005, Charles Brown wrote: From: Martin Hart-Landsberg -clip-Of course the notion that if employers were given more freedom to fire workers and/or hire irregular workers then employment would rise, investment would

[PEN-L] China's industrial strength

Just came upon an interesting article that apparently appeared in Foreign Affairs July/August 2004. It can be accessed at another site: http://www.howardwfrench.com/archives/2005/08/13/the_myth_behind_chinas_miracle/ The article, called the myth behind china's miracle, includes a number of

Re: [PEN-L] China-Cuba comparisons

For a Chinese establishment view of what is happening and should happen in China relative to market/capitalist processes, check out: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_34/b3948478.htm Marty On Sun, 21 Aug 2005, Michael Perelman wrote: I am just looking at the latest BusinessWeek

[PEN-L] Recent NYT article

I was told that there was an article in yesterday's NYTs dealing with IRS data which showed that that a large percent of incomes was captured by the top 0.1 percent. Does anyone have a reference for that article. Thanks, Marty Hart-Landsberg

[PEN-L] A question about The Savings myth of the trade deficit (fwd)

Thomas Palley shared a policy brief (see below). I have a question about his presentation of the mainstream argument about the role of savings. In the brief he argues that economists argue for more savings because that would reduce consumption and thus imports. And, Palley shows, that is a very

Re: [PEN-L] Stiglitz on China

I would put it in slightly different terms: China's growth is the result of a process of global restructuring driven by transnational capital. Workers and capitalists not part of the new productive structure are suffering in most countries. Thus, workers in the US are being hurt by the process

Re: [PEN-L] industrial detox

This article was interesting, but I have a question. If I remember correctly a while back the EC tried something like this and the US challenged it under the Technical Barriers to Trade statue in the WTO, claiming that no country had the ability to tell another how to produce a product, and this

[PEN-L] job creation in Asia (fwd)

I wonder what Pen-Lers think of the following from the Asian Development Bank: The outlines of an Asian employment crisis are already taking shape, says ADB Chief Economist Ifzal Ali. Strong economic growth alone will not solve the problem. Even in countries that have achieved relatively high

Re: [PEN-L] In Mexico, a Class War Looms

About Mexico, at this point I think one of the more interesting things to do is to try and imagine what it would mean to actualize Obrador’s threat of dual power. In other words, suppose that he really wants to challenge for power, what would/should he do. I am unclear just how divided the

Re: [PEN-L] In Mexico, a Class War Looms

In reading about the situation in Mexico it does indeed appear that there is a significant social force that is prepared and committed to struggle. I think it would be well worth our time to try and envision or think about how that struggle could be best promoted, both in case we can offer some

Re: [PEN-L] In Mexico, a Class War Looms

Following up on the Mexican class war thread: Given that we are thinking in dual power terms, I think the new government might be best served by announcing a change in the delivery of a public service. I think that the alliances that can be made between public sector workers and those who use

[PEN-L] North Korea

The North Korean situation. Well the long and short of it as I see it is that the North, ever since the end of the Soviet Union and the shift of Russia and central and eastern European countries to capitalism, has been desperately trying to normalize relations with the US and Japan. Its

Re: [PEN-L] North Korea

They certainly are not alone in selling arms to earn money. And there is nothing illegal in the sales that they have made. They have however repeatedly said that they would consider all issues, including their missile program, if the US would sit down and engage in direct comprehensive talks.

Re: [PEN-L] David Schweickart follow-up

Many people continue to celebrate the Chinese experience, largely on the basis of the country’s rapid and sustained industrialization and export successes. Some still call it a socialist success story, often on the basis of Chinese party claims or Chinese foreign policy initiatives which are seen

Re: [PEN-L] class struggle, blowouts, and the new media

Hi Michael, Can you give any more information on the Korean examples/initiatives? Marty Perelman, Michael wrote: I spent last weekend at the LaborTech conference, devoted to understanding how labor can adapt modern technology in its struggles against capital. Some of the most impressive

Re: [PEN-L] identity gift a Korean question

An overstatement relative to Korea. But the law does allow expanded use and for more workers. For additional background see the following blog: http://twokoreas.blogspot.com/ Marty Michael Perelman wrote: How is it identify theft if an immigrant uses my Social Security number pays into my

Re: [PEN-L] what's the flaw?

I would say that the most important flaw in the story is the starting point that suggests that we all enjoy the same things, only some are helping pay for the others. We obviously do not all start with the same access to health care, education, job security, etc. Challenging the start open up

[PEN-L] self-promotion

I just wanted to alert those interested in issues related to Korea, East Asia, Marxism, and development theory --to a recently published book called Marxist Perspectives on South Korea in the Global Economy. It is edited by Martin Hart-Landsberg, Seongjin Jeong, and Richard Westra, and published

Re: [PEN-L] 40 million US Jobs ar risk from trade

The majority of Chinese and Indians are indeed exploited as Yoshie notes. Even in China urban unemployment rates are high, formal sector job creation is almost non-existent, and wages and working conditions remain poor for the great majority. But isnt the question what relationship we want to

[PEN-L] conditions in Korea

The following is from the Korea Herald, a conservative mainstream daily. It gives a good sense of conditions in South Korea. Korean industry is rapidly moving to China and demanding that the government do more to bring labor under control or else. What ever Asian miracle we read about is

[PEN-L] India and labor

At issue is whether workers are wise to support the export-led growth models that their governments are pursing. It is not a question of whether a particular worker gets a job, but whether the growth process really offers workers anything significant for the exploitation they endure. If not,

Re: [PEN-L] self-promotion

You people are so 20th century--I am currently in negotiations over who will play me in the movie version of my book. Marty michael a. lebowitz wrote: Paying, comrade! It's breaking me because ad and product placement rates are based on audience size! m At 12:14 31/03/2007, you wrote:

Re: [PEN-L] conditions in Korea

by creating more jobs and generating more corporate investment. Marty michael perelman wrote: Wasn't it recently being touted as a great sign of progress that Koreans were taking to credit cards? Martin Hart-Landsberg wrote: Park Jong-kyu, a research fellow with the Korea Institute

[PEN-L] question on constitutional changes

I will be leading a group of students on a four month study program in Ecuador beginning in January 2008. I have therefore been reading about developments in Ecuador, which are pretty exciting. The recently elected president, Correa, is clearly attempting to respond to the demands of the mass

[PEN-L] immigration issues

I would appreciate some help in understanding the proposed immigration bill. But first: the media generally presents the sides as the (liberal) pro-immigrant coalition which wants congress to pass the bill and the (conservative) anti-immigrant coalition that is opposed to it. But it is my

[PEN-L] labor struggle in Korea

An update on current struggles in Korea against the US-Korea Free Trade Agreement, Marty* Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) * *Action Alert* *June, 2007* *//* *Appeal for Solidarity : KCTU affiliate, KMWU Strikes to Oppose FTA Signing* */Situation summary: /* Workers,

Re: [PEN-L] Petras on China

I am not sure what to make of Petras’s piece on China. He seems to be claiming that China is moving quickly and successfully up the value chain and that its leaders, who remain committed to a non-capitalist alternative, face a real choice about the future. If I am interpreting him correctly I

[PEN-L] help recruiting

Dear Penners, Lewis and Clark College, where I teach, is doing a national search for a tenure track position for a macro person. I would appreciate it if you could spread the word and encourage good applicants to apply. Thanks, Marty * * * Macroeconomics: *The LEWIS CLARK COLLEGE

[PEN-L] china shrinking?

I wondered what pen-lers think of the following and all the issues related, in particular ppp estimates, the reliability of any of these figures, and the significance of what appears to be a substantial reevaluation of China's recent successes. Marty The limits of a smaller, poorer China

Re: [PEN-L] the story of stuff

Dear Penners, Recently came across the twenty minute video entitled the story of stuff, which can be viewed at: http://www.storyofstuff.com/index.html Wondered if others have seen it, or after viewing it, what your thoughts might be. While I am not sure about some of the facts, it seemed