Bookmarked at Del.icio.us for 2007-02-19

• John McMillan: Reinventing the Bazaar: A Natural History of Markets
  (tags: 20070218 books book economics economic_history)
• Gavin Kennedy: Adam Smith's Lost Legacy: Smith Did Not Have a Labour Theory of Value for Commercial Society
  (tags: 20070218 adam_smith labor_theory_of_value history_of_economic_thought economic_history)
• Louis Uchitelle: Nafta Should Have Stopped Illegal Immigration, Right?
  (tags: 20070218 nafta international_trade Mexico immigration)

Comments

[krkrpokero]

Are you endorsing that essay on Adam Smith and value? I feel somewhat strongly that Kennedy downplays (a) the extent to which Smith really was willing to talk about something called "value", in much the same way that Ricardo and Marx were, and (b) the extent to which labor is meant to play a role in the theory of value even in a complex society.

Do I have the time right now to reread INCWN? Well, er, no. But maybe in April... but I would love to know whether your authority falls behind the argument that you linked to. Thanks!

[Giant Step]

McMillan's book is one of the best I've read on ANY subject, ever. Excellent recommendation.

[Kelly]

"Louis Uchitelle: Nafta Should Have Stopped Illegal Immigration, Right?"

The article is extremely insightful. It gets to the root of our problem with NAFTA and even though Prof. DeLong is quoted and sounds to have one foot still in the pro-NAFTA camp, the overall article shows that any serious contemplation of expanding this sort of agreement must include the hard work of making sure the economy and country on the other end is fully engaged and massive assistance is provided.
Otherwise I fear that what America really wants is cheap labor and we couldn't care less what happens to people in other lands.