Lesson 3: Can We Plan an Economy?

Contents

Overview

Can we plan an economy? We will cover the “socialist calculation debate” and its implications for development policy. I will lecture on Monday and part of Wednesday, and then we will hold our first discussion on Wednesday.

My lecture slides will contain a lot of quotes from participants, for a few reasons:

  1. There is a background of ideological contestation, so I don’t want to put words in the mouths of various sides, or people I may disagree with.
  2. Since there is only one reading, and it is from a primary protagonist in the debate, I don’t want you to only think I am giving you “one side”
  3. You can always go back read them and see the sources if you are interested, so I can move faster through the general trends in class

Check back here for an update to the slides for Wednesday.

Slides

Readings

See this week’s readings page for required readings, suggested readings, descriptions, and some questions to help guide your reading.

Assignments: Discussion on Wednesday Sept 11

Please see the discussion rules and grading. You are to email me two questions based on the reading before class begins on Wednesday.