Economic Justice and Democracy

by Robin Hahnel

In Economic Justice and Democracy Robin Hahnel argues that progressives need to go back to the drawing board and rethink how they conceive of economic justice and economic democracy. He presents a coherent set of economic institutions and procedures that can deliver economic justice and democracy through a "participatory economy." But this is a long-run goal; he also explores how to promote the economics of equitable cooperation in the here and now by emphasizing ways to broaden the base of existing economic reform movements while deepening their commitment to more far reaching change.

Genres: Economics, Politics, Nonfiction

436 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Robin Eric Hahnel (born March 25, 1946) is Professor of Economics at Portland State University. He was a professor at American University for many years and traveled extensively advising on economic matters all over the world. He is best known for his work on participatory economics with Z Magazine editor Michael Albert.

Hahnel is a radical economist and political activist. Politically he considers himself a product of the New Left and is sympathetic to libertarian socialism. He has been active in many social movements and organizations for forty years, notably as a participant in student movements opposed to the American invasion of South Vietnam, more recently with the Southern Maryland Greens, a local chapter of the Maryland Green Party, and the Green Party of the United States. Hahnel's work in economic theory and analysis is informed by the work of Marx, Keynes, Piero Sraffa, Michał Kalecki, and Joan Robinson, among others. He has served as a visiting professor or economist in Cuba, Peru, and England.

Reviews

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

On reading Chomsky On Anarchism by Noam Chomsky I posted a number of questions, relating specifically to Chomsky's essay Goals and Visions, on an Anarchist book forum about practical ways forward and was drowned out almost entirely by a flood of empty rhetoric and rehearsed dismissal, but no real ideas about the essay or ways forward.

Feeling somewhat despondent I emailed Chomsky himself with my questions and he recommended this book.

I have to say Hahnels book went a long way to blowing away many of the cobwebs in my head and answered, better than anything I could realistically expect from the internet, many of the queries I had about how practically to go about building a libertarian-socialist society.

For anyone, like myself, who identifies as a libertarian socialist, or even merely as progressive, this is an excellent book which will more clearly shape your political instincts into a practical analysis of what challenges lay ahead and about the tangibility of immediate and long-term goals before us.

I would recommend it highly. This book will be a good reference guide as we set out to try and replace the economics of competition and greed with the economics of equitable co-operation while building a more moral society for the future.

[James Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the best one on Participatory Economics yet. I still have a lot of questions about how this model might work in a post-capitalist society, but it is great that there is a renewed conversation about anti-authoritarian models of socialism. The book excels at explaining various other economic models and exploring them in a non-dogmatic way.

[Antti Rantanen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is absolutely "MUST" read.

What is actually "economic justice"? When earning more than some other person is actually justified?

Personally, the most interesting part of the book is the analysis regarding the past. Why did we fail to
move from capitalism to more equal/just society during past century? Why social democrats were not
able to provide an answer? What was wrong with models proposed? What was wrong in the way of
implementing left-wing politics?

Hahnel then moves on to describe an alternative economic system. Even if I do not agree with the model
and essentially remain among its critics, it is a major contribution. We need to have accurately described
alternative models and not just vaguely talk about what is wrong with capitalism.

[Mitchell Szczepanczyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

A clearly written and hugely inspiring book. It delves into the history and theory of political economy in the 20th century, and proposes a new economic theory for the future, complete with suggests of how to achieve it. This book could rank among the most important and influential books I've ever read.

[Sam Whitehill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about economic justice and democracy, as the title notes. Hahnel spends time defining these terms, he evaluates different economic systems, and ultimately summarizes and defends his system of participatory economics as the most just and democratic possibility for modern society. The last chapter gets into possible paths toward a more just society, concluding that a collection of reforms and prefigurative social movements are necessary first steps toward a system of cooperation and equity. Not too much new here, but if you are familiar with parecon, it is interesting to read his response to common critiques and questions.

[Brimate · Rating 2 out of 5]

for class. parecon is weird with a weird cultish following. i call it anarchism for capitalists. or capitalism for anarchists.