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.
