On Non‐self‐replacing States

Abstract

The purpose of the paper is to show why the assumption of a non-self-replacing state in Sraffa's system, with single-product industries and circulating capital, could jeopardize the role of production prices in making the reproduction of the system possible. As a result, this assumption is not a merely simplifying, but rather a`characterizing' assumption, in so much as it changes in some fundamental respect the main results of the analysis. Speci®cally, unless self-replacement is assumed, the laws of returns (and therefore quantity-considerations) cannot be ignored.

Robust measurement of national technological progress

“…It should be noted that the activity level x that would allow for the system to be productive need not always exist. In that case the particular combination z is not viable (Chiodi, 1998).…”

“…This means that Japan from 2005-2011 could not considered as being viable(Chiodi, 1998) for the set of methods that are actually in use. This indicate the fact that the set of methods of production used by Japan dependence to foreign markets for the means of production.…”

Sraffa's mathematical economics: aconstructive1 interpretation

“…I suspect Watson's query must have to do with the fact that he had forgotten the notion of viability defined in PCC (footnote, p. 5; cf. also Chiodi 1992Chiodi , 1998. 12…”

A Basis for Sraffian Ecological Economics. A Comment on Martins' “Ecosystems, Strong Sustainability and the Classical Circular Economy”

“…The latter point explains why, even if Sraa's prices represent the ratios of exchanges that ensure the reproduction of the system, they cannot ensure the physical possibility of such exchanges. It may well be that a natural resource has been depleted during the present period of production, and that its use during the next period of production is no longer possible (see also Chiodi, 1998 for a distinction between a viable system and a self-replacing system; Sraa considers only viable systems, but not all viable systems are self-replacing).…”