Re: use and exchange value

In the urban political economy literature (e.g., Logan and Molotch, _Urban
Fortunes_) conflict over, and problems associated with pro-growth
policies are often analyzed in terms of different groups' interests in
housing (and the land on which housing sits).  Use value and exchange
value are concepts used to locate various interest groups on these issues.
Real estate industry and banks are after exchange value, while workers
interests in housing are tied to use value.  Of course it's a lot more
complicated than this, but maybe this is the sort of reference you're
looking for.

On Wed, 26 May 1999, Dag P Macleod wrote:

> I was wondering if anyone can point me to an operationalization of the
> concepts of use and exchange value. I realize that one appropriately
> Marxist response might be to say that these are relational concepts that
> cannot be understood independent of one another. However, I'm intrigued by
> the extent to which advertising frequently emphasizes the use value of
> commodities and the uses produced by corporate practices given that the
> underlying motive of production under capitalism is not the production of
> use values but, rather, exchange values.
> 
> Any recommendations of studies that operationalize and provide empirical
> referents of these concepts would be welcome.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Dag MacLeod
> Ph.D. Candidate
> Department of Sociology
> The Johns Hopkins University
>