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direct comparability of the units in terms of which the labor inputs
are measured in different areas, Does this imply that a man year of
labor in the United States translated into relevant efficiency units
is equivalent to a man year of labor in Canada, in France or in
India? If it does not, how would a correction for differences in
abor efficiency affect his comparisons?
ALLAIS
I don’t suppose anything. The only relevant point is the fact
that there exist great productivity differencies. To explain them,
different factors must be examined: labor, natural resources and
capital. The present paper is limited to the study of the possible
nfluence of capital. In my book « L’Europe Unie », published by
Calmann Levy in 1960, I have presented for the United States and
France a general analysis taking into account the different factors,
the discussion of which is not possible in the limited framework of
this discussion.
Nevertheless as far as I can judge, my personal position differs
slightly from yours. I think you agree that capital is not playing
as great a role as many people believe and I am happy that you
have arrived at the same conclusion as I. But so far as labour is
concerned, it seems to me that may be we should be quite cautious
oecause there are two things to consider. The first one is the level
of the productivity of persons and the second is the efficiency of
the economic system. My own view on this questions, so far as
the United States and France are concerned, is that it is impossible
to conclude that American workers are superior to French,
Perhaps the best example I can give is that when I deliver a lecture
in France, people say « Oh, French workers are superior to the
American workers without any doubt » and in the United States
hey say exactly the contrary. That American workers are better.
in my opinion there is no difference at all. What is different is
the economic system, the pressure of competition. the price mechaitl
Allais - pag. 200
