Is in utility or production of value? Labor and relations of production in a colonial "estancia" of the Río de la Plata, from the case of Los Portugueses (1802-1809)

Abstract

The colonial “estancias” have been recently analyzed as enterprises rationally oriented to the market. Researches estimated the utility rate and profit, according to the economic factors, especially, the investment. On the other hand, this research will propose an analysis of the profit and valuation of the estancia, proposing an alternative methodological perspective, where “peones” and slaves were the ones who create a new value.