Computers and economic democracy

Cockshott, P. and Cottrell, A. (2008) Computers and economic democracy. Revista de Economia Institucional, 10(19), pp. 161-205.

Abstract

The collapse of previously existing socialism was due to causes embedded in its economic mechanism, which are not inherent in all possible socialisms. The article argues that Marxist economic theory, in conjunction with information technology, provides the basis on which a viable socialist economic program can be advanced, and that the development of computer technology and the Internet makes economic planning possible. In addition, it argues that the socialist movement has never developed a correct constitutional program, and that modern technology opens up opportunities for democracy. Finally, it reviews the Austrian arguments against the possibility of socialist calculation in the light of modern computational capacity and the constraints of the Kyoto Protocol.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Cockshott, Dr William
• Authors: Cockshott, P., and Cottrell, A.
• Subjects: H Social Sciences > HX Socialism. Communism. Anarchism; Q Science > QA Mathematics > QA76 Computer software
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Computing Science
• Journal Name: Revista de Economia Institucional
• ISSN: 0124-5996