| Přispěvatelé: |
École des hautes études en sciences sociales (EHESS), Groupe de Recherche Angevin en Economie et Management (GRANEM), Université d'Angers (UA)-AGROCAMPUS OUEST, Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Institut National de l'Horticulture et du Paysage, Université d'Angers (UA)-AGROCAMPUS OUEST-Institut National de l'Horticulture et du Paysage |
| Popis: |
In this article, we provide a re-examination of Ludwig Lachmann’s take on the controversy between Piero Sraffa and Friedrich von Hayek, which took place after the publication of the latter’s Prices and Production in 1931. Initially an ally of Hayek, Lachmann also immensely respected Sraffa. As a result, Lachmann provided a review critical of both sides. A particularly interesting point is that Lachmann questioned an assertion made by Sraffa in his initial review, and approved by Hayek in his reply, according to which in a barter economy there could be as many Wicksellian natural interest rates as there are commodities. Drawing partly on Sraffa’s 1960 book Production of Commodities per means of Commodities, Lachmann showed that there should be only one natural interest rate, since relative prices should reflect the discrepancy between the various ‘own rates of interest’ pertaining to each commodity. Moreover, Sraffa criticised Hayek for not acknowledging the full extent of the role of money in an economy, using the example of wages being paid in money to show that not only is money not neutral, but it also constitutes a fundamental institutional aspect of the way economic flows are organised. Sraffa’s argument could be turned against him, as it could be argued that since lending takes place in money, the rate of interest charged on loans should not have to be equal to any of the commodity own rates of interest in the economy. Instead, the rate of interest should be based on Sraffa’s composite commodity from his 1960 opus. The only situation in which interest rates could vary depending on commodities, would be if expectations regarding productivity and upcoming prices and output varied among economic agents. Interestingly, this line of reasoning is very close to Lachmann’s radical subjectivism. |
