Re: [Marxism] Interesting articles on economic modelling.

[David Picón Álvarez <david@miradoiro.com>]

From: "Andrew Pollack" <acpollack2@gmail.com>
> The problem wasn't the lack of computational power. Cockshott and Cottrell
> have demonstrated that mathematically and Mandel theoretically. The former
> estimated the number of calculations needing to be made and match it to
> existing computer power. The latter explained that only a certain number 
> of
> decisions need to be made at each level of the hierarchy of decision 
> making,
> i.e. you don't need one supercomputer making all the quadrillions of
> decisions about discrete goods and individuals in an economy.

Right, I wasn't trying to say planning was impossible now, but in the 1930s 
it sure seems beyond the technological development.

> Which gets to the reason the Soviet Union never had efficient planning, 
> and
> could never even use efficiently the computer power it did have: the
> overcentralization of decisions, combined with the bureaucratic incentives
> which ensured inaccurate information flowing up and down the chain.

I agree about the bureaucratic incentives, not so sure about 
overcentralization. As far as I've read the SU even used price signalling 
sometimes between different enterprises. That doesn't look overcentralized 
to me.

> Again, someone should do a study of the Chilean experience, brief as it 
> was.

There is the odd paper about it, some available on the net. I guess I should 
try to read them.

--David.


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