買辦資本論의 再吟味

The concept of the comprador capital reconsidered

This paper tries to understands the conventional theory of the comprador capital and attemps to interpret its conception as “market failure” from the neoclassical view point. The main arguments in this paper are as follows: First, the conventional critics on the comprador are made on the ground that it hampers the path of self-sustained growth of the developing countries. In this regard, the multinational enterprises in developing countries are condemned as comprador. However, its impact on the development differs from country to country. Therefore, the general argument for its effect cannot be made without refering to the specific situations concerned. Secondly, the individual behavior of the comprador on micro level can not be condemned, as far as his economic behavior does not violate the existing law. But, if the behavior of comprador distorts the efficiency in resource allocation as well as the balanced growth path of national economy, it must be controlled by the government policy. Thirdly, comprador should not be looked upon as an “incurable disease” rooted inherently in the capitalistic system, as P. Baran asserts. It may be rather one aspect of the “market failure” from neoclassical view. In so far as the view point of market failure is accepted, the comprador could be effectively eradicated by the adequate government policy. This will lead us to conclude that if comprador prevails, its responsibility would lie rather in government not in the individual comprador at all in a free market economy. Last but not the least, the author is of confidence that the comprador would not be able to find its own place to exist and grow in a present international economic order where the mutual exchange occurs only when one country benefits from the through international trade.