Ellen Dannin's puzzlement about the puzzlement over wages reminds me of my own puzzlement recently, when I read a piece by a young 'rising star' of British 'mainstream' economics on wages and unemployment. The writer, one David Blanchflower, was amazed to discover that regional comparisons of wages suggested that wages were lower where unemployment was high, which contradicted the neoclassical expectation that wages would correlate with (marginal) productivity. So the reality is exactly what Marx would predict... You might then say: but unemployment is comparatively low in the US now. Well, yes; but the reserve army of labour for US capital is mostly OUTSIDE the US now, waiting for a chance to get in, or waiting for the bounty of US FDI. Sorry if I ramble - it's nearly 5 pm on Friday here, it's been a long week, and I'm about ready for the weekend! Hugo Radice [EMAIL PROTECTED] PS: Harry Cleaver: could you remail me your piece on info tech and Zapatistas - I accidentally erased it, and with it your personal email address....
