Rediscovering fire : basic economic lessons from the Soviet experiment / Guinevere Liberty Nell.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Nell, Guinevere Liberty, 1976-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Mixed economy--Soviet Union.

Mixed economy.

Central planning--Soviet Union.

Central planning.

Soviet Union--Economic conditions.

Soviet Union.

Soviet Union--Economic policy.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (338 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

New York : Algora Pub., c2010.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Marx promoted the idea that economic laws were universal, but the Soviet Union tested his ideas on the premise that by eliminating private property they could eliminate markets and prices?and they tested that proposition on a grand scale. However, in managing an economy based on public ownership, they discovered that they could not repeal economic laws. By managing the consequences of their policies, the Soviets unintentionally relearned the basics of economics from scratch?essentially, rediscovering fire.

Contents:

The real benefits of competition

The dynamics of unemployment and efficiency

The holistic target : the value of profit and loss for the firm

The rat race : the value of profit and loss for the economy

Middlemen, trade, and the market system

The high price of price control

The root of all prosperity : money and the danger of centralized monetary policy

Regulation and the institutions of a dynamic economy

Democracy and freedom

Corporate capitalism or the free market.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0-87586-749-9

OCLC:

693761554