Marty, thanks for the great note. One of the things I tried to do in my book,
Transcending the Economy, was to indicate how during times of crisis, people
throw aside the market. After a hurricane, nobody credits the guy selling
bottled water for $10 a quart for his entrepreneurialism. Instead, market
behavior is seen as antisocial.
Martin Hart-Landsberg wrote:
> One place to look for historical examples of social control over
> distribution that are non-market and grassroots in nature is the United
> States during World War II.
>
> The United States instituted price and
> rationing controls during the war years. For most of the war prices were
> monitored by ordinary citizens armed with basic price information who had
> the legal right to see clearly posted signs in stores revealing prices.
> If the store was not following the law in terms of pricing (including
> displaying prices), the monitors could and would bring them up on charges
> before local price and ration boards. These boards would hear all sides
> and then had the power to fine the store owner if they found a problem.
> Similarly there were ration boards that would decide who should get tires
> and other various goods. People would come and state their case and the
> board would decide. These boards were volunteer boards except for a paid
> staff person. The boards were by law chosen to reflect different social
> constituencies and included labor representatives. And most importantly
> they worked. Not only did prices stay low during the war years, working
> people supported the system that kept them low.
>
> Business hated this system and fought against it hard. Periodically they
> would mount enough pressure that the government would take steps to weaken
> the monitoring capability of the people. Within a short period of time
> prices would start to rise, workers would become angry, and to ensure
> support for the war, the government would renew its commitment to popular
> social regulation.
>
> This to me is an excellent example of social regulation that does not
> involve a huge extension of the government but rather mobilizes and
> empowers people. Not surprisingly little attention is given to this
> period. And as soon as the war was over the government moved under
> business pressure to drop the control scheme.
>
> In short, there are interesting historical examples of alternatives ways
> to organize economies that can promote alternative visions.
>
> Marty Hart-Landsberg
--
Michael Perelman
Economics Department
California State University
Chico, CA 95929
Tel. 530-898-5321
E-Mail [EMAIL PROTECTED]
