Progressive utilization theory: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 02:22, 19 August 2023

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Another criticism of [[Neoliberalism|neo-liberalism]] and capitalism in general is the centralization of economic power in the hands of the rich leads to the exploitation of the masses and ultimately to the degeneration of society.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book|title=PROUT in a Nutshell part 12|last=Sarkar|first=Prabhat|publisher=Ananda Marga Publications|year=1986}}</ref>

Prout claims that both capitalism and communism have been built on shaky foundations, and identifies weaknesses to a point where a new market system is required.<ref name=":3" /> He heavily critiqued communism, indicating that one of the reasons the [[Soviet Union|USSRs]] experiment with communism did not work, causing the eventual implosion of their political structure, is that the sovieticSoviet central planning committees ([[Gosplan]]) had too much economic decision and cohesion power in the federation (see [[Marxism–Leninism]]).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.centrosraffa.org/public/bb6ba675-6bef-4182-bb89-339ae1f7e792.pdf|title=An analysis of the Soviet economic growth from the 1950s to the collapse of USSR|last1=Serrano|first1=Franklin|last2=Mazat|first2=Numa|website=Centros Raffa|page=3}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/economics/staff/mharrison/inactive/command.pdf|title=Are Command Economies Unstable? Why did the Soviet Economy Collapse?|last=Harrison|first=Mark|website=University of Warwick}}</ref>

Nonetheless, Sarkar observed aspects of [[Economic planning|market planning]] that help to create and sustain a healthy economy.<ref name=":5">{{Cite book|title=Growing a new economy|last1=Bjonnes|first1=Roar|last2=Sevaergrah|first2=Caroline|publisher=Inner World Books|year=2016|isbn=9781881717539}}</ref> In summary, Proutist thought considers that planning allows the market to protect its stakeholders from the meanderings of [[Neoliberalism|neo-liberal economics]] where profit-motive speaks highest.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web|url=http://www.prout.org.au/books/Self-Reliant%20Regional%20Development.pdf|title=Self-Reliant Regional proutist development|last1=Ghista|first1=Dhanjoo|last2=Towsey|first2=Michael|website=Prout.org|page=7}}</ref> However, he stresses that a planning committee at a national level should only outline the broader aspects of economic development, leaving the details to be resolved by planning bodies at a local level where problems are best understood and more easily dealt with.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=http://www.proutinstitute.org/download/block-level-planning/|title=Block-level planning|last=Logan|first=Ronald}}</ref> (see [[diseconomies of scale]]). Consequently, this kind of top-down planning will leave communities, enterprises and ultimately workers with a significant level of freedom to decide their own economic future (see [[Decentralized planning (economics)|decentralized planning]]).<ref name=":6" />