[lbo-talk] Fitch and Brenner

[Michael Perelman]

Wal-Mart does represent an improvement in supply management.  I am thinking 
of janitors in what had been a unionized factory.  Not increased 
productivity, but say unpaid overtime.

On Sun, Feb 22, 2009 at 09:28:41PM -0500, Doug Henwood wrote:
>
> On Feb 22, 2009, at 11:35 AM, Michael Perelman wrote:
>
>> Productivity can be misleading.  If low productivity producers drop out,
>> that increases productivity without any improvement in existing 
>> operations.
>> Also, productivity can increase by outsourcing some work -- say janitors 
>> in
>> a factory.  These outsourced workers can be pushed harder than unionized
>> workers.
>
> So? Sucks for the workers, but that's capitalism, isn't it? Wal-Mart 
> revolutionized retail by driving Mom and Pop, and then K-Mart, to the wall. 
> But that's the point, no?
>
> Doug
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-- 
Michael Perelman
Economics Department
California State University
Chico, CA 95929

Tel. 530-898-5321
E-Mail michael at ecst.csuchico.edu
michaelperelman.wordpress.com