Noted recall: The goal is to describe, in just a few words, what the article is about. Additionally, if I think the article is particularly note-worthy (good or bad), I will comment on that. Compare this to a small sticky note, something to jog your memory about the contents of an article. Of course, if I miss the point of an article, or fail to find anything remarkable, that is entirely the fault of the reviewer.
Available at: https://monthlyreview.org/archives/2019/volume-70-issue-10-march/
Global Commodity Chains and the New Imperialism - Intan Suwandi, R. Jamil Jonna, and John Bellamy Foster
(read 2019/03/16)
Good article discussing multi-national corporations and means of production. Comparison of manufacturing in the global north and global south, and unit labor costs. Comparative exploitation advantage, and historic trends in unit labor costs. Finance capital, as opposed to being an actual producer, and "arm's length contracting."
Economics Surplus, the Baran Ratio, and Capital Accumulation - Zhun Xu
(read 2019/03/16)
Discussion about how economic surplus used by the ruling class shapes economic growth. Charts and stats. Despite the short note here, there's a lot of depth to these points discussed in the article.
Self-Knowledge, Estrangement, and Social Metabolism - Boris Hennig
(read 2019/03/17)
Deeply philosophical article about "value" from human labor. Covers Marx, Liebig, Hess. Distinction between "organic" and "inorganic" -- what is contained or "natural" (man) and what is defined through communal agreement in society (value). Distinction between man and animals along the ability to define these community oriented goals (extracting value from labor).