I wrote: >>> The difference between a market economy and a (democratic) socialist one is that the market works according to "one dollar, one vote," so that the wealthy dominate, while a d.s. economy should work according to "one person, one vote," so that the principle of democratic popular sovereignty dominates. Of course, neither pure case has been seen in the real world.<<<
On 10/28/05, David B. Shemano wrote: > But how does this help to explain your original statement that "most if not > all of 'unlimited wants' behavior is due to sociological forces that NC > economics explicitly excludes from analysis?" < it's a different question. This tread meandered a lot. I thought I explained the "unlimited wants" behavior before. Then you asked about socialism vs. the "market economy." to repeat what I said, the "unlimited wants" behavior is encouraged by (1) [Hirsch-type relative competition] people comparing themselves to each other, judging their "success" or worth relative to others. If you think that "he who dies with the most toys wins" then you can never be satisfied -- your wants seem to be unlimited -- because others are accumulating toys in the same way. (2) [sociological side] this kind of consumerist/competitive attitude is encouraged by schools, advertising, a lot of other social institutions, including markets themselves. On the last, the market judges "success" according to how much your net worth is, but your success at keeping your net worth up is always being undermined by competition, so you have to keep struggling. (This hits businesses much more than individuals & households, because the latter are also influenced by traditions and community.) > Is your point that (1) actual tastes of actual individuals will be different > based upon the form of the economcy, or that (2) the tastes will be similar, > but the expression of those tastes as manifested in the output of the economy > will be different because of the differing power structure?< both. > Are you saying that people have unlimited wants in a market economy, but not > in a socialist economcy.? Or there are unlimited wants in both a market and > socialist economies, but the unlimited wants will be different?< The wrong kind of socialist economy might encourage "unlimited wants" behavior. The things that are wanted might differ from under capitalism, though. -- Jim Devine "Segui il tuo corso, e lascia dir le genti." (Go your own way and let people talk.) -- Karl, paraphrasing Dante.
