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Marginal Productivity Theory versus the Labor Theory of Property: An analysis using vectorial marginal products

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  • David Ellerman

Abstract

Neoclassical economic theory presents marginal productivity (MP) theory using the scalar notion of marginal products, and takes pains, implicitly or explicitly, to show that competitive equilibrium satisfies the supposedly ethical principle: ``To each what he and the instruments he owns produces.'' This paper shows that MP theory can also be formulated in a mathematically equivalent way using vectorial marginal products--which however conflicts with the above-mentioned ``distributive shares'' picture. Vectorial MP theory also facilitates the presentation of modern treatment of the labor theory of property which on the descriptive side is based on the fact that, contrary to the distributive shares picture, one legal party gets the production vector consisting of 100 percent of the liabilities for the used-up inputs and 100 percent of the produced outputs in a productive opportunity. On the normative side, the labor theory of property is just the application of the usual juridical norm of imputation to the question of property appropriation. Keywords: marginal productivity theory, property theory, imputation of responsibility, vectorial marginal products JEL Classification]{D2, D3, D63, P14

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  • David Ellerman, 2025. "Marginal Productivity Theory versus the Labor Theory of Property: An analysis using vectorial marginal products," Papers 2511.08039, arXiv.org.
    • Handle: RePEc:arx:papers:2511.08039
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kenneth J. Arrow, 1971. "The Firm in General Equilibrium Theory," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Robin Marris & Adrian Wood (ed.), The Corporate Economy, chapter 3, pages 68-110, Palgrave Macmillan.
    2. David Ellerman, 2017. "On the Labor Theory of Property: Is the Problem Distribution or Predistribution?," Challenge, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 60(2), pages 171-188, March.
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D2 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations
    • D3 - Microeconomics - - Distribution
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • P14 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Capitalist Economies - - - Property Rights

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