Comments on: Some links on economic subjects http://www.theartofthepossible.net/2008/05/04/some-links-on-economic-subjects/ Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:39:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Kevin Carson http://www.theartofthepossible.net/2008/05/04/some-links-on-economic-subjects/#comment-2287 Kevin Carson Mon, 05 May 2008 07:50:40 +0000 http://www.theartofthepossible.net/2008/05/04/some-links-on-economic-subjects/#comment-2287 Tomatoes and potatoes are the kinds of "trade" that makes perfect sense. Seed is something that only has to be transported once. Their present geographical distribution results from the widespread diffusion of the *ability* to produce them *anywhere*. The closest modern analogy is the free movement of skills, technologies, and capabilities we'd have if "intellectual property" didn't create artificial comparative advantage and prevent the diffusion of technique. Bananas make a certain amount of sense, as well. Even in a decentralized economy of primarily local production, whatever geographically limited commodities with a high value-to-weight ratio would make up a large part of whatever long-distance trade still remained. What we don't need is precisely what constitutes the bulk of trade under neoliberalism: 1) trade that results from artificial comparative advantage, because of barriers to the diffusion of technique, and 2) trade that results from subsidies that make shipping stuff in artificially cheap compared to making it at home. Tomatoes and potatoes are the kinds of “trade” that makes perfect sense. Seed is something that only has to be transported once. Their present geographical distribution results from the widespread diffusion of the *ability* to produce them *anywhere*. The closest modern analogy is the free movement of skills, technologies, and capabilities we’d have if “intellectual property” didn’t create artificial comparative advantage and prevent the diffusion of technique.

Bananas make a certain amount of sense, as well. Even in a decentralized economy of primarily local production, whatever geographically limited commodities with a high value-to-weight ratio would make up a large part of whatever long-distance trade still remained.

What we don’t need is precisely what constitutes the bulk of trade under neoliberalism: 1) trade that results from artificial comparative advantage, because of barriers to the diffusion of technique, and 2) trade that results from subsidies that make shipping stuff in artificially cheap compared to making it at home.

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