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Re: unequal exchange by g kohler 16 February 2002 13:59 UTC |
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Dear Mr. Lipke - thanks for your questions on unequal exchange (below, appended). I am happy to learn that you are writing your master thesis in this area of research - which brings me to your question #3 - namely, "Is there any further research on your theory, any new knowledge or critique on it? (I only know your paper "The Structure of Global Money and World Tables..." in: Journal of World System Research Fall 1998)" re your Question #3 - GK: There has been no explicit critique so far, but some encouraging signs of interest. (a) Prof. Arno Tausch (Innsbruck and Vienna) has used unequal exchange, the distortion factor (d or ERDI o 1/ERDI) and the transfer value (T) in his empirical research (European and global scope) and found them to be of explanatory value in macrosociological research (b) Prof. Cem Somel (Ankara) and his students have applied these concepts in the study of the Turkish economy and found them very useful (the only country case study along these lines that I know of). (c) Prof. Hartmut Elsenhans (Leipzig) published an article of mine on unequal exchange in his "asien africa latein amerika" journal. An economist who has written a book with a similar perspective (and global scope) is Yotopoulos (mid-1990s). I have done some more work on unequal exchange along my "structure of global money" line - (a) empirical (estimates for 1965, time series 1965-95), (b) simulation, (c) theoretical (relationship with surplus value, relationship with world income, other), see online at: http://csf.colorado.edu/wsystems/archive/papers/kohlertoc.htm A further sign of growing awareness of these problems might be the fact that the most recent edition of the World Bank's online database on growth and development includes such variables as terms of trade in PPP terms and trade flows separated by trade with OECD versus other. re your Question 2 - GK: if I understand you correctly, then I agree with you on this. The T in my formula is a result of both "distortion" and "volume" of trade. Two extreme cases - (A) high distortion and no trading volume, result = no transfer value (Kyrgistan is close to that) - (B) no distortion and high trading volume, result = no transfer value (EU - USA is close to that) re your Question 1 - GK: this question touches on the relationship between PPP values, commodity terms of trade, perhaps other terms of trade as well, unequal exchange, and global exploitation. This is a "can of worms", as it touches on questions of both measurement and theory. When you think of worsening commodity terms of trade (for example - how many tons of coffee must be exported by Costa Rica in order to buy an American- or European- or Japanese-made truck?), then this trend should be subsumed in a worsening "distortion factor" (d or ERDI). [However, the exact statistical relationship is difficult. Yotopoulos has more detail on that.] If, on the other hand, you think of the theory of unequal exchange and global exploitation, there are many more questions to be explored and answered. There should be much more research on these issues, theoretical, statistical-empirical, and political-economic. As far as I can tell, the earlier literature on unequal exchange and unequal development has been rather blind to the fact that the exchange rate system is a major mechanism of global exploitation. (Neither Emmanuel nor Amin mention that - probably, because they emphasize production relations over exchange relations; but this should be added as one facet of global exploitation. One important effect of unequal exchange rates is the fact that rich countries can buy up factories, real estate, and labour in poor countries for "peanuts". Thus, (monetary) exchange relations have a major impact on global production relations. ) Good luck with your thesis. If you like me to comment on additional points, feel free to send me an email. Gernot Köhler --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jürgen Lipke wrote: > Dear Mr. Kohler (and other WSN members), > > after I had read your paper on the structure of global money and since I >liked your idea of quantification of unequal exchange, I decided to write my >master thesis in geography on that topic. > I am very interested in the whole sphere of the world system and I think your >approach very valuable and hope it will bring the issue of unequal exchange a >new impetus. > But I have the following questions: > 1) How is the PPP related to the terms of trade? From my point of view >the commodity terms of trade regarding primary goods are an additional factor >of unequal exchange, because they are paid in dollar. For processed goods the >income level/ exchange rate plays a role and thus they are included in your >estimation of unrecorded transfer. (?) > 2) Isn't there a feedback of the unrecorded transfer T to the PPP? If >e.g. the domestic economy profits from T, its PPP will increase and thus the >value of T becomes too low after your formula. > This effect will be very low and negligible for countries with small >distortion factors and share of exchange, especially seen that it is just an >estimation. But for countries with high export shares and distortion factors >it might have a greater impact. > 3) Is there any further research on your theory, any new knowledge or >critique on it? (I only know your paper "The Structure of Global Money and >World Tables..." in: Journal of World System Research Fall 1998) > > I would be very grateful for any answer and advice or hint that you could >give me. > > Sincerely > > Juergen Lipke > > Department of Geographical Sciences > Free University Berlin - Germany > > -- > berlin.de - meine stadt im netz. 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