tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3591186784456519139.post3769665863262788736..comments2024-01-02T17:38:32.872+00:00Comments on Economics of Imperialism: Britain's Financial MachineryTony Norfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03896437404164741498noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3591186784456519139.post-39220970139656407402016-08-13T21:58:54.343+01:002016-08-13T21:58:54.343+01:00Economic migration was frowned upon in Britain'...Economic migration was frowned upon in Britain's recent past. When we embraced neo-liberal economics in the 1970's, austerity and unemployment being the fundamentals, cheap, trained labour was and is still sought, from initially eastern Europeans. Xenophobia is used to distract critics of this shortsighted economic slavery.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14891887580407574158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3591186784456519139.post-72790955731893568592016-06-02T15:39:39.931+01:002016-06-02T15:39:39.931+01:00"How do financiers view migration and border ..."How do financiers view migration and border control policies?" ... No different from other capitalists, ie the usual freedom to hire who you want from wherever. Except the qualification that can also apply to ruling class policy generally: if border controls are part of the necessary mix for patriotism and keeping the working class loyal to the rule of capital in their own country, then maybe implement those to some extent as well.Tony Norfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03896437404164741498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3591186784456519139.post-1506882350809276862016-06-01T21:55:37.941+01:002016-06-01T21:55:37.941+01:00There is much debate on the left about the politic...There is much debate on the left about the political and economic impact of migration and the function within capital of open or closed borders and the necessity of creating economic precarity for workers as a precondition for profitable value extraction. I argue categorically for open borders and against any political development that might close them - because it gives workers the chance to subvert the controls and domination practised by powers in Europe. How do financiers view migration and border control policies?<br />Black Scotlandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08346940727680570486noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3591186784456519139.post-85899058066120548922016-05-31T12:25:11.194+01:002016-05-31T12:25:11.194+01:00Black Scotland: Thanks ... Yes, the 1986 Big Bang ...Black Scotland: Thanks ... Yes, the 1986 Big Bang and the SEA were important developments (covered in my book, The City, esp pp65-70). But I don't think a 'sizeable section of City opinion' is pro-Brexit. Some hedge funds are, and others who might even benefit from Brexit. The majority, although difficult to quantify, is pro-Stay. The pan-EU financial 'passport' for is more important for the latter, incl banks and insurance companies.<br /><br />There is a debate because: (a) a minority of ruling class opinion has always been anti-EU, partly based on fear of a loss of political power - a fear exacerbated by the growing role of a euro-member group within the EU; (b) the EU economy is in a big mess, so being 'outside' can look better; (c) there is a broader popular worry about immigration, and wanting to find something to blame for economic woes. Since the govt has opened up the question to a referendum, rather than sorting it out internally as they usually do, point (c) gives the Brexit side more momentum than it would otherwise have had.Tony Norfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03896437404164741498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3591186784456519139.post-51201401570526600302016-05-31T11:36:19.936+01:002016-05-31T11:36:19.936+01:00Hello Tony - my sincere thanks for your blog and f...Hello Tony - my sincere thanks for your blog and for the straightforward, comprehensible writing style. A small question 1986 was a big year for British and European capitalism with the twin major events of the Big Bang of deregulation of the City combined with the Single European Act being forced through Westminster with barely a debate. 30 years on how is it that now a sizeable section of City opinion is now pro-Brexit when surely the SEA and Big Bang were mutually reinforcing events? Why have these views within the ruling class so diverged? Would you say that the expansion of British capital into the EU single market (freed from endless waits for lorry freight to get through Dover and Calais) has allowed a better link between real world value production on a larger pan-EU monopolised scale with access to financial global open markets capitalisation in the City? If so why is there even a debate within the ruling class about EU membership being totally in their interests? <br />Black Scotlandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08346940727680570486noreply@blogger.com