Economic Calculation in the Socialist Society

Fülszöveg

in the Socialist Society
Since 1854, when the German pioneer of marginal utility, H. H. Gossen, dedared that only private ownership could determine the economic rationality of production, the problbm of economic calculation has occupied the attention of relatively few économiste on either side of the debate between socialism and capitalism.
Yet, in the words of Professor Maurice Dobb, "economic
___________ accounting and calculation | may well be a crucial
HH^HSHM- concept on which the whote future of economic theory ¦ lLW ' ée J> may turn."
¦vif y jffl/ In writing'this book, it was the intention ofTrygveJ. B.Hoff HHHHHhhHH S to th'row light rather than heat upon a question that had received as much or more émotion than reason. As a scholar possessing "an original sympathy for socialist ideas," he explores the history, epistemology, and economic theory involved on both sides of the debate and, by rigorous reasoning, has produced what socialist economist H. D. Dickinson... Tovább

Fülszöveg

in the Socialist Society
Since 1854, when the German pioneer of marginal utility, H. H. Gossen, dedared that only private ownership could determine the economic rationality of production, the problbm of economic calculation has occupied the attention of relatively few économiste on either side of the debate between socialism and capitalism.
Yet, in the words of Professor Maurice Dobb, "economic
___________ accounting and calculation | may well be a crucial
HH^HSHM- concept on which the whote future of economic theory ¦ lLW ' ée J> may turn."
¦vif y jffl/ In writing'this book, it was the intention ofTrygveJ. B.Hoff HHHHHhhHH S to th'row light rather than heat upon a question that had received as much or more émotion than reason. As a scholar possessing "an original sympathy for socialist ideas," he explores the history, epistemology, and economic theory involved on both sides of the debate and, by rigorous reasoning, has produced what socialist economist H. D. Dickinson described as "a critical review at a very high level of theoretical compétence."
Dr. Hoff, who edits the Norwegian business journal Farmand, began his study of économies at Harvard and earrtëd his doctorate from Oslo University under a faculty whose sympathies were predominantly for, rather.than against, socialism.
The author's conclusions may be best summed up in his own words: "[E]conomic calculation cannot be undertaken in a socialist society with a moneyless economy prices, or rather price altérations, act as the anonymous conductor of the economic orchestra and automatically provide a rationing device without the. use of ration cards or officiai directives it is illogical to demand the substitution of • socialist central authority for the price mechanism on the
ground that the price mechanism is becoming more and more imperfect considering that this growing imperfection is mainly due to the development towards socialism."
The Introduction by Professor Karen I. Vaughn óf George Mason University sets the historical and theoretical background of Dr. Hoff's discussion. . i
Trygve J. B. Hoff Vissza