Profit rate dynamics, income distribution, structural and technical change in Denmark, Finland and Italy

Under less restrictive assumptions than in previous contributions, this paper highlights various patterns of profit rate dynamics that are common to the countries under scrutiny. Without a substantial re-distribution of income in favour of profits, the profit rate declines. When labour productivity is weak the profits/wages ratio declines leading to a decline in the profit rate, also due to capital deepening. Developments in the capital–labour ratio tend to increase the organic composition of capital while those in the ratio between the capital price deflator and the average wage tend to decrease it. Falls in the profit rate took place in countries with a weak technological change with episodes of Marxian bias. Employment shifted from low to high capital intensity sectors, from low to high organic composition industries and from low to high productivity sectors. Rising strength of labour and realization failures tend to have a greater role than rising organic composition in cyclical profit rate dynamics. Over the cycle, the first mechanism is also the first one to show up, while the others tend to follow it. Theoretical and policy implications are offered.

► Without a substantial re-distribution of income in favour of profits, the profit rate declines.
► When labour productivity is weak the profits/wages ratio declines leading to a decline in the profit rate, also due to capital deepening.
► Developments in the capital–labour ratio tend to increase the organic composition of capital while those in the ratio between the capital price deflator and the average wage tend to decrease it.
► Falls in the profit rate took place in countries with a weak technological change with episodes of Marxian bias.
► Employment shifted from low to high capital intensity sectors, from low to high organic composition industries and from low to high productivity sectors.
► Rising strength of labour and realization failures tend to have a greater role than rising organic composition in cyclical profit rate dynamics.
► Over the cycle, the first mechanism is also the first one to show up, while the others tend to follow it.