Trying again. The "bourgeois" definition of (labor) productivity would be (the number of use-values produced)/(the amount of labor [or labor-power] used to produce them). As Tom says, the numerator can't be measured. The closest is to add up the use-values by first multiplying the number of each type of use-value by its price. Then it's a measure of exchange-value per unit of input, even if base-year prices are used to correct for inflation. Even then there are big problems as when Fogel & Engerman claimed that slaves in the Antebellum US South were productive than free Northern labor. It turns out that this happened because the price of cotton was temporarily high compared to Northern crops.
Thn there's the denominator... Jim Devine On Jan 21, 2013 5:32 PM, "Jim Devine" <[email protected]> wrote: > The "bourgeois" definition of (labor) productivity would be (the number of > use- > > > James G. Devine > On Jan 14, 2013 6:34 PM, "Tom Walker" <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Be careful... be VERY careful when talking about "productivity." >> Generally speaking, "productivity" refers to exchange value and especially >> to surplus value. But even when referring to quantities of a commodity, >> "productivity" doesn't necessarily correlate with increased use value. For >> two people, four chairs do not have "twice" the use value of two chairs. >> When it comes to congestion, "more" provides less utility. >> >> >> >> On Mon, Jan 14, 2013 at 4:37 PM, c b <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> Increased productivity of labor ? >>> >>> CB >>> >>> >>> >>> https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=570688989612388&set=a.347869171894372.104482.341113802569909&type=1&theater >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> Bread and Roses 1912-2012 >>> >>> >>> "Uncle Sam Ruled Out" by Art Young, in Solidarity, June 7, 1913. A >>> year after their success in Lawrence, MA, the Industrial Workers of >>> the World (IWW) led an industry-wide walkout of Paterson's silk >>> industry. The primary grievance was the introduction of the four-loom >>> system, _which raised productivity and profits while lowering wages >>> and increasing unemployment for the workers_ (emphasis added -CB). The >>> IWW maintained a high spirit of solidarity among a diverse, >>> multi-ethnic workforce. Also as in Lawrence factory owners and police >>> attempted to break that solidarity through harassment and violence. >>> >>> Paterson’s mayor passed an ordinance outlawing public meetings and >>> prohibited demonstrations and the formation of picket lines. New >>> Jersey's ‘riot act’ gave police the right to dissolve any meetings >>> addressed by "outside agitators." >>> Assisting the police in the task of driving out the IWW were >>> Paterson's silk manufacturers, who employed a private army of >>> detectives who were responsible for the murder of two workers. "Uncle >>> Sam Ruled Out" is an illustration of the impudence with which >>> Paterson's silk manufacturers violated the principles of the US >>> constitution to protect their profits from the workers. laborarts.org >>> _______________________________________________ >>> pen-l mailing list >>> [email protected] >>> https://lists.csuchico.edu/mailman/listinfo/pen-l >>> >> >> >> >> -- >> Cheers, >> >> Tom Walker (Sandwichman) >> >> _______________________________________________ >> pen-l mailing list >> [email protected] >> https://lists.csuchico.edu/mailman/listinfo/pen-l >> >>
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