1st Edition

Income Distribution and Environmental Sustainability A Sraffian Approach

By Robin Hahnel Copyright 2017
162 Pages 9 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

162 Pages 9 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

162 Pages 9 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

Any economics that does not deal forthrightly with economic inequality is no longer suitable for the twenty-first century. Similarly, any economics which does not provide a coherent way to integrate environmental sustainability into economic analysis will fail to command allegiance in the century ahead. This book demonstrates how the Sraffian framework provides important advantages in both areas.... Read more

INTRODUCTION

PART 1: SRAFFA AFTER FROBENIUS-PERRON

1.0 Introduction to Part One

1.1 Mathematical Notation, Definitions, and Theorems

1.2 The Dominant Eigenvalue and Right Eigenvector of the Economy

1.3 A Subsistence Economy

1.4 A Productive Economy

1.5 Division of the Net Product

1.6 Basic and Non-Basic Industries

1.7 Technical Change and the Rate of Profit

1.8 Technical Change and Social Efficiency

1.9 Resolving a Conundrum

1.10 Measuring Increases in Labor Productivity

Appendix A: Proofs of Mathematical Theorems.

PART 2: ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY IN A SRAFFA MODEL

2.0 Introduction to Part Two

2.1 Price and Income Determination with Multiple Primary Inputs

2.2 Measuring Environmental Throughput

2.3 Measuring Increases in Throughput Efficiency

2.4 Defining Environmental Sustainability

2.5 Implications for Steady-State and De-Growth Economics

2.6 Generalizing to Heterogeneous Nature

2.7 When Time Matters

PART 3: PRODUCERS AND PARASITES

3.0 Introduction to Part Three

3.1 It’s the Economy that’s Productive, Stupid!

3.2 The Prima Facie Case that Capitalists and Rentiers are Parasites

3.3 Arguments in Defense of Profits and Rents

3.4 What Counts: Contribution or Sacrifice?

3.5 Guilty, as Charged!

Appendix B: Reward for Effort and Modern Theories of Distributive Justice.

CONCLUSION

Biography

Robin Hahnel is Professor Emeritus at the Department of Economics at American University Washington DC, USA, as well as the Co-Director of Economics for Equity and the Environment.

‘Any economics that does not deal forthrightly with economic inequality is no longer suitable for the twenty-first century. Similarly, any economics which does not provide a coherent way to integrate environmental sustainability into economic analysis will fail to command allegiance in the century ahead. This book demonstrates how the Sraffian framework provides important advantages in both areas.’ — www.urpe.org (February 16, 2017)