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Fifth IWGVT Mini-conference on value theory at the EEA, Crowne Plaza 
Manhattan, New York February 26th -March 1st 1998 
 
NOTE:  EEA Convention is one month earlier than usual.  Please pay careful 
attention to deadlines. 
 
Call for Papers 
 
 
We invite you to participate in the fifth "New Directions in Value/Price 
Theory" mini-conference at the Eastern Economic Association conference to be 
held between February 26th and March 1st 1998 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 
Manhattan, New York (USA).  The conference is organized by the International 
Working Group on Value Theory. 
 
The IWGVT aims to promote pluralistic debate on concepts of value, seeking 
particularly -- but not exclusively -- to deepen the discussion of value 
concepts appropriate to dynamic analysis, and to end the unacceptable 
exclusion of the value theory of Karl Marx  from existing debates. 
 
The principal justification which economics offers for excluding its foremost 
critic is the proposition that, whatever the merits of his contribution on 
individual issues, his concept of value is invalid because it leads to 
internal inconsistencies.   A growing body of independent research shows that 
this argument is no longer sustainable.  We conclude that the discussion on 
value should re-open without the presupposition of any established standard, 
tradition or source of authority regarding either value or Marx. 
 
The IWGVT defends no particular theory of value beyond arguing that the 
concept itself is indispensable. It does believe it is possible to assess the 
merits of contesting theories in debate. It seeks to create an atmosphere for 
this debate -- which does not at present exist -- such that all value 
theories, and all readings of value theorists, may discuss on an equal 
footing, referring in their support neither to the evidence of authority nor 
the conviction of doctrine but to reasoned and logical discussion based on 
textual evidence for readings and factual evidence for theories. 
 
Four successive conferences have provided a widespread, gratifying and 
international response to our initial appeal, steadily enlarging not only the 
number of participants but the breadth and range of the theoretical positions 
represented, and the quality of the engagement between them.  Our major 
objectives for next year's conference are to foster: 
 
(a) inclusive dialog among all bodies of economic theory critical of the 
conceptual framework of competitive general equilibrium; 
(b)     focussed debates on, or detailed examination of, specific issues 
from past conferences. 
 
To this end we will facilitate conference sessions of two types:  standard 
conference panels, as well as plenary sessions.  Because of the size the 
conference has now reached, some parallelism between the standard panels may 
be unavoidable.  The plenary sessions, however, will not clash with other 
mini-conference events.  Plenaries will focus on issues of that have proven to 
 
be of central concern within value theory, such as one or more of the 
following: 
 
*Historical-time Perspectives on Capital Theory 
 
*Historical-time Perspectives on Money 
 
*Internal (In)Consistency of Marx's Own Value Theory 
 
*Labor-time vs. Use-Value as Determinants of Profitability and Economic Growth 
 
Individuals interested in participating in one of these potential plenary 
sessions, or who desire more information about them, should contact the 
co-organizers as soon as possible.   Those interested in discussing other 
topics are encouraged to propose complete panels; abstracts of individual 
papers are also acceptable.  The co-organizers may be able to assist with the 
formation of complete panels. 
 
 
Deadlines and instructions to participants 
 
To facilitate discussion we aim, as in the past, to ensure the widest possible 
 
pre-circulation of conference papers to participants. The success of past EEA 
mini-conferences has hinged on the engagement of speakers with each others' 
views and the pre-circulation of materials, neither of which are entirely 
normal in academic debates; participants should be aware of this departure 
from traditional practice. To this end we propose the following deadlines: 
 
Deadline for abstracts to be considered for presentation: November 1st 
Speakers in panels to be informed by November 15th 
Deadline for papers: January 15th 
 
The criteria for selection of both papers and panels will be the quality of 
the proposals and the degree of engagement between participants.  As proposals 
 
are put to us, we will try to keep them posted electronically (see below), so 
that would-be presenters can identify the topics emerging as issues of concern 
 
to other participants. 
 
 
Distribution of materials from past and future conferences 
 
An electronic list has been established to distribute information concerning 
the IWGVT and its conference activities, which serves also to distribute some 
of the materials by e-mail, on request. The volume of material is not large. 
To join, send a message containing the words 
 
join econ-value Your Name 
 
(the words "Your Name" should be replaced by your actual name), to 
 
[log in to unmask] 
 
Materials from past EEA mini-conferences may be obtained from this list 
(instructions will be sent on joining), or on request from the organizers, or 
may be viewed on the following sites: 
 
www.greenwich.ac.uk/~fa03 
www.mailbase.ac.uk/lists/econ-value/files 
 
As the preparation of the conference advances we hope to keep this 
periodically updated. 
 
 
How to apply 
 
Proposals, informal suggestions, and abstracts should be sent or E-Mailed to 
 
Andrew Kliman 
Dept. of Social Sciences 
Pace University 
861 Bedford Road 
Pleasantville, NY 10570  USA 
Tel: 1 (914) 773-3951 
[log in to unmask] 
 
 
Membership and Financial appeal 
 
Conference papers will be circulated to anyone who registers as an IWGVT 
member by filling out the form attached to this appeal.  If you have already 
supplied these details you need only fill in your name, so that we know you 
wish to be in receipt of 1998 materials. The IWGVT is run on a voluntary basis 
 
and its costs greatly exceed its income. We have no formal fee but suggest an 
annual donation of $15 or 10 UK pounds.  Larger sums will not, of course, be 
turned 
down. 
 
Alan Freeman, co-organizer, IWGVT          Andrew Kliman, co-organizer, IWGVT 
 
 
(form attached; not reproduced here for space reasons) 
 
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