This is in response to Allin Cottrell and Chris Barrett's
response to my original posting on the Yugoslav planning
experience.
Cottrell (I admit I have not read their book) does not seem
to be describing what I mean by "participatory planning", which
was a political process involving people right down to the
workers' council level. It can, of course, be facilitated by
computers and algorithms, but how do you incorporate in this the
local farmers milk co-op who, when told that the plan can not
accommodate 5000 extra hectolitres of milk a month then have to
meet to decide what else to produce (butter, alfalfa, veal) over
the next planning period? This can't be done instantaneously or
else the whole concept of participatory planning doesn't mean
very much.
Chris Barrett's comment I concede -- except this is not
economic planning in the sense we normally refer to the term
in reference to socialist economies. Indeed, his point is
well within my comment -- I believe it is possible to have
participatory planning within a more macro economic policy
planning which sets out "market" parameters. I use quotation
marks because the market then is not the unconstrained capitalist
market but the directed, regulated market that includes the
value constraints incorporating the more global macro planning
mechanism. (See Branko Horvat) I think Herb Gintis' comment
is close to what I am trying to convey.
Have a participatorily planned day!
Paul Phillips,
Univeristy of Manitoba
