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Imperfect Competition and the Theory of the Falling Rate of Profit

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  • Peter Skott

    (Institute of Economics, University of Aarhus, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark)

Abstract

According to the Okishio theorem, profit-maximizing firms will not introduce new techniques which, when adopted by all firms, reduce the rate of profit. This paper presents a simple model which shows that this conclusion need not hold under imperfect competition. The model excludes working-class pressures for increased real wages - the supply of labor is infinitely elastic at a given money wage rate - and it is assumed that firms aim to maximize profits. It is shown that, if the economy starts from an initial position with a low organic composition, then the rate of profit will fall. Asymptotically, the profit rate approaches a long-run equilibrium value, but the model may explain some of the observed decline in profitability during the early stages of industrialization.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter Skott, 1992. "Imperfect Competition and the Theory of the Falling Rate of Profit," Review of Radical Political Economics, Union for Radical Political Economics, vol. 24(1), pages 101-113, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:reorpe:v:24:y:1992:i:1:p:101-113
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    Cited by:

    1. Frederick Guy & Peter Skott, 2008. "Power, Productivity, and Profits," Springer Books, in: Matthew Braham & Frank Steffen (ed.), Power, Freedom, and Voting, chapter 20, pages 385-403, Springer.
    2. Petith, Howard, 2008. "Land, technical progress and the falling rate of profit," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 66(3-4), pages 687-702, June.

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