The obvious point, from my perspective, is that the main focus of noncapitalist
economics should be creating superior alternatives to markets (where there are
such alternatives), rather than simply suppressing them. Example: the public
library is one of the closest things we have in our society to a small-c
communist institution. Black market undermining of libraries seldom takes
place, because most people believe they can meet their needs satisfactorily
through normal library activities.
Peter
David Shemano wrote:
> Here is a big general question for you regarding markets:
>
> What is the implication for your various analyses from the widespread
> existence of black markets? Black markets have existed not only with
> respect to specific commodities (drugs, alcohol, etc.), but in places such
> as prisons, Nazi concentration camps, the Soviet Bloc. I will bet there are
> even black markets in North Korea, for goodness sake.
>
> Is that an interesting factual phenomena from your perspective? Is it
> relevant to whether markets are natural and inherent in human relations, or
> merely artificial creations?
>
> David Shemano
