Skip to main content

The Long-Run Rate of Profit in an Economy with Natural Resource Scarcity

  • Chapter
  • 36 Accesses

Abstract

According to Knut Wicksell, two important factors which prevent the rate of profit from declining towards zero in an economy with positive saving are labor growth and technical progress. This paper analyzes the effect of these factors and the economy’s saving propensity on the long-run rate of profit in an economy with a scarce non-renewable natural resource. The existence of natural resource scarcity depresses the long-run rate of profit. However, the sensitivity of this rate of profit to labor growth and technical progress is the same for economies without and with natural resource scarcity.

I would like to thank Richard Goodwin for critical comments on an earlier version of this paper.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

eBook
USD   19.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   27.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Burmeister, E., Caton, C., Dobell, A. R. & Ross, S.: The ‘Saddlepoint Property’ and the structure of dynamic heterogeneous capital good models. Econometrica 41, 79–95, 1973.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cassel, G.: Nature and necessity of interest. London, 1903.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dasgupta, P. & Heal, G.: The optimal depletion of exhaustible resources. The Review of Economic Studies, Symposium on the Economics of Exhaustible Resources, pp. 3–28, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dixit, A. K.: The theory of equilibrium growth. Oxford University Press, London, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garg, P. & Sweeney, J. L.: Optimal growth with depletable resources. Resources and Energy 1, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoel, M.: The development of the capital return in neo-classical growth theory. In M. Heel: Aspects of distribution and growth in a capitalist economy. Memorandum from the Institute of Economics, University of Oslo, April 10, pp. 1–39, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoel, M.: Naturressurser og ekonomisk verkst. Memorandum from the Institute of Economics, University of Oslo, July 22, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hotelling, H.: The economics of exhaustible resources. The Journal of Political Economy 39, 137–175, 1931

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ingham, A. & Simmons, P.: Natural resources and growing population. The Review of Economic Studies 42, 191–206, 1975.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Solow, R. M.: Intergenerational equity and exhaustible resources. The Review of Economic Studies, Symposium on the Economics of Exhaustible Resources, pp. 29–45, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stiglitz, J. E.: Growth with exhaustible resources: Efficient and optimal growth paths. The Review of Economic Studies, Symposium on the Economics of Exhaustible Resources, pp. 123–138, 1974a.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stiglitz, J. E.: Growth with exhaustible natural resources: The competitive economy. The Review of Economic Studies, Symposium on the Economics of Exhaustible Resources, pp. 139–152, 1974b

    Google Scholar 

  • Weinstein, M. C. & Zeckhauser, R. J.: Use patterns for depletable and recycleable resources. The Review of Economic Studies, Symposium on the Economics of Exhaustible Resources, pp. 67–88, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wicksell, K.: Föreläsningar i nationalekonomi, I. C. W. K. Gleerups Förlag, Lund, 1928.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Copyright information

© 1979 The Scandinavian Journal of Economics

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Hoel, M. (1979). The Long-Run Rate of Profit in an Economy with Natural Resource Scarcity. In: Strøm, S., Thalberg, B. (eds) The Theoretical Contributions of Knut Wicksell. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-04207-4_8

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics