DISCUSSION.

The article presents a discussion by the author on two papers by Richard B. Heflebower and Richard Ruggles about price and market theory. According to the author Ruggles has given a lucid appraisal of the limitation to orthodox value theory concepts for purposes of empirical analysis while Heflebower has pointed toward an inductive theory derived from observations on the real world. Each is an appropriate complement to the other. Unfortunately, throughout his analysis Heflebower mostly disregards the analytical tools of orthodox value theory and appears to rely heavily upon something bearing close resemblance to the principle of cost-plus pricing. Heflebower's analysis must be appraised against the objective sought to attain and the principal conclusion to which it led. Ruggles' paper raises significant questions about the very heart of economic theory, namely, value theory and its usefulness. Value theory, historically considered, has been concerned with the relative importance of goods and services.