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Challenging the Presumption in Favor of Markets

Author

Listed:
  • Colin Donnaruma

    (University at Albany, Albany, NY, USA)

  • Nicholas Partyka

    (University at Albany, Albany, NY, USA)

Abstract

There is a pervasive presumption in the literature on political economy that substantial use of competitive markets is appropriate and necessary for organizing economic activity. Markets, however, are undemocratic, inefficient, and incentivize anti-social behavior. These short-comings are often minimized or accepted as necessary evils because of the belief that there is no alternative to market structures. This belief is mistaken. Sophisticated alternative models of economic organization, such as participatory economics, have been proposed which are substantially more consistent with important social values. We contend that in light of these alternatives, the presumption in favor of markets should be reversed and market proponents should carry the burden of proof of demonstrating why, given their numerous shortcomings, markets should continue to occupy a privileged position as the default mode of economic organization.JEL classification: A13, L10, P16

Suggested Citation

  • Colin Donnaruma & Nicholas Partyka, 2012. "Challenging the Presumption in Favor of Markets," Review of Radical Political Economics, Union for Radical Political Economics, vol. 44(1), pages 40-61, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:reorpe:v:44:y:2012:i:1:p:40-61
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    File URL: http://rrp.sagepub.com/content/44/1/40.abstract
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Kosta Josifidis & Alpar LosÌŒonc, 2014. "Some Thoughts on Power: International Context," Panoeconomicus, Savez ekonomista Vojvodine, Novi Sad, Serbia, vol. 61(5), pages 597-615, October.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    market structure; democracy; participatory economics;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A13 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Relation of Economics to Social Values
    • L10 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - General
    • P16 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Capitalist Economies - - - Capitalist Institutions; Welfare State

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