>> And cutting unnecessary costs. Wal-Mart has driven up >>_productivity_.
>'Productivity' is just another word for the 'efficiency' that you >worship like a supply sider. Like Brad Delong and Paul Krugman? Are you seriously arguing against the notion that improved productivity has been the foundation of the existance of the middle class. That, if we had the productivity of 200 years ago, everyone would fall below the present 10th percentile in the present US society? > Cutting costs 10% is the same as getting an 11% raise. Wal-Mart's > innovations have > >.11 * 0 = 0 >No it's not. And a five dollar gift certificate is really the same as >having a five dollar bill in your wallet or in the bank...Not. OK, so we can all become richer if we raise prices and wages a factor of two. You seem to be arguing that inflation adjustments are nonsense. If your salary and expences double, you are better off? > When the average farmer produces 5% more food than his/her family >needs, then there is little room for error, as well as little chance for >more than a few to rise above hand to mouth poverty. >Whose policies is it that keep third word economies down again? >one that uses Economic Hitmen and controls the IMF and world Bank? Mostly the policies of the goverments. Indeed, the arguement I've heard from Aficans is that the West is at fault for not supervising their aid more. How in the world does borrowing money to buy government officials 100k cars help the ecconomy of Africa again? I may be wrong, but I bet you haven't discussed this at length with anyone from Africa who's has an ecconomics degree. Would you even listen to my daughter's understanding if I pass this on to her? FWIW, she's seen the problem from both sides, marching against the IMF and interning for them. What she wants to do more than anything is improve the well being of the people of her country. Dan M. -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://mail2web.com/ . _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
