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Exploitation and the class struggle

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  • Juan Carlos Cuestas
  • Bruce Philp

Abstract

This paper contributes to our understanding of the determinants and dynamics of Marxian exploitation using quarterly UK data, 1955-2008. Initially a simple model is introduced for the purpose of defining exploitation and its component parts, before elaborating on theoretical issues which are important in estimating the rate of exploitation. In the empirical analysis we seek to explain the effect of class struggle, for the UK economy, using quarterly data. Attention is paid to three forces which are traditionally seen as drivers of power in the class struggle: (i) political party; (ii) the size of the “reserve army” of the unemployed; (iii) working class militancy. Our results suggest a positive impact of unemployment on the rate of exploitation, and that growing working class militancy tends to diminish the rate. Changes in political party affect the rate of exploitation in a counter-intuitive way, with a positive short-run relationship between the rate and movements to left-wing government.

Suggested Citation

  • Juan Carlos Cuestas & Bruce Philp, 2010. "Exploitation and the class struggle," NBS Discussion Papers in Economics 2010/2, Economics, Nottingham Business School, Nottingham Trent University.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbs:wpaper:2010/2
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yoshihara, Naoki, 2010. "Class and exploitation in general convex cone economies," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 75(2), pages 281-296, August.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    quantitative Marxism; exploitation; class conflict;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • B51 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Current Heterodox Approaches - - - Socialist; Marxian; Sraffian
    • D33 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Factor Income Distribution
    • E11 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - General Aggregative Models - - - Marxian; Sraffian; Kaleckian
    • J20 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - General

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