> I think that most today’s prices, at least in the developed world,
> are driven by the rent component, not by the reproduction of
> labour power (i..e. the actual cost of production) component. That
> is to say, a garment that sells for say $50 at Macy’s has about $2
> reproduction of labor power component (i.e. actual production
> cost) and $48 in economic rent, i.e. charge for the Macy or other
> designer schmuck brand.
>
In other words, produce locally; save a lot of money; save the environment.
The market may actually come back to that. It's a lot more fun to go shopping at the local crafts fair than it is to go to Macy's.
Cashmere sweaters at Bloomies are $100, but they're crap. In fact, most everything you can buy in a store these days is crap, except possibly for electronics.....and that's engineered to be outmoded in a couple of years.
Joanna