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# Participatory Economy

A new economic system based on participatory democracy

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://participatoryeconomy.org/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [Latest](https://participatoryeconomy.org/latest/)
- [A PEP Review of the First INDEP Conference](https://participatoryeconomy.org/a-pep-review-of-the-first-indep-conference/) - Montreal played host to the very first in-person conference of INDEP -- the International Network of Democratic Economic Planning (disclosure: the Participatory Economy Project is one of the founding organizations of INDEP and members of PEP are active in helping to maintain INDEP). The conference, titled Democratic Planning for the Real World, was officially organized
- [Can I change what I want to consume during the year?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/can-i-change-what-i-want-to-consume-during-the-year/) - Neighborhood consumption council proposals are just best guesses for planning purposes. Nobody is going to hold households to their consumption requests when it turns out they want to consume more of some things and less of others than they preordered. We simply ask households to place a preorder so neighborhood consumption councils can participate in
- [Individual consumption Planning](https://participatoryeconomy.org/individual-consumption-planning/) - Self-management stipulates that consumers should have an influence over what is produced in the economy to the degree they are affected, and consumers, obviously, are very directly affected by their individual consumption. Consumers always possess the best possible knowledge about their own consumption preferences and their potential reactions to price adjustments and income changes. If
- [Market failure is real!](https://participatoryeconomy.org/market-failure-is-real/) - This article is part of a series of short pieces on the theme of what it would be like to live in a Participatory Economy. In market economies people are not asked to plan how much of different goods they will want to consume in advance. Therefore, it is not surprising that the most common doubt
- [How do I find a job? What will my duties be?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/how-do-i-find-a-job-what-will-my-duties-be/) - This article is part of a series of short pieces on the theme of what it would be like to live in a Participatory Economy. How do I find a job? You will go about finding a job just as people do now. You will look for a worker council you want to become a member
- [Who will decide how much I am compensated?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/who-will-decide-how-much-i-am-compensated/) - This article is part of a series of short pieces on the theme of what it would be like to live in a Participatory Economy. In capitalist economies you are evaluated and your pay is decided by the firm’s owner, or by a personnel office under his control. Of course, if there is a union contract
- [What if a consumer doesn’t want to participate during annual planning?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/what-if-a-consumer-doesnt-want-to-participate-during-annual-planning/) - This article is part of a series of short pieces on the theme of what it would be like to live in a Participatory Economy. What would happen to someone who did not bother to fill out and submit consumption request forms for next year during the participatory annual planning process? It is not hard for
- [How do those who do not work get income in a Participatory Economy?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/how-do-those-who-do-not-work-get-income-in-a-participatory-economy/) - This article is part of a series of short pieces on the theme of what it would be like to live in a Participatory Economy. Less than half of Americans have fulltime jobs. On what basis will those not working as members of worker councils have income? We assume that rules for who qualifies for living
- [Annual Participatory Planning: An Interactive Prototype - by Mitchell Szczepanczyk](https://participatoryeconomy.org/annual-participatory-planning-an-interactive-prototype-by-mitchell-szczepanczyk/) - The International Network for Democratic Economic Planning (INDEP) held their first international conference, called Democratic Economic Planning for the Real World in Montreal in July 2025. This is a recording of a talk by Participatory Economy Project member and software engineer, Mitchell Szczepanczyk introducing a software project to build an interactive participatory planning prototype. View
- [Prefiguration: Reflections from the Vienna Conference](https://participatoryeconomy.org/prefiguration-reflections-from-the-vienna-conference/) - Reflections on the Vienna conference exploring assemblies, ecological transition, prefiguration and ideas for a participatory society, alongside art and music.
- [Beyond the Misconception of Socialism as a “Planned” Economy - by Ferdia O’Driscoll](https://participatoryeconomy.org/beyond-the-misconception-of-socialism-as-a-planned-economy-by-ferdia-odriscoll/) - The International Network for Democratic Economic Planning (INDEP) held their first international conference, called Democratic Economic Planning for the Real World in Montreal in July 2025. This is a recording of a talk by Participatory Economy Project member and post-capitalism researcher, Ferdia O’Driscoll talking about the misconception of Socialism as a "Planned" Economy. View the
- [Understanding Rewards in Socialism using Self-Determination Theory - by Ferdia O'Driscoll](https://participatoryeconomy.org/understanding-rewards-in-socialism-using-self-determination-theory-by-ferdia-odriscoll/) - The International Network for Democratic Economic Planning (INDEP) held their first international conference, called Democratic Economic Planning for the Real World in Montreal in July 2025. This is a recording of a talk by Participatory Economy Project member and post-capitalism researcher, Ferdia O’Driscoll about understanding rewards in Socialism using Self-Determination Theory. View the slides that
- [Adding realism to the Participatory Economy Model - by Anders Sandström](https://participatoryeconomy.org/adding-realism-to-the-participatory-economy-model-by-anders-sandstrom/) - The International Network for Democratic Economic Planning (INDEP) held their first international conference, called Democratic Economic Planning for the Real World in Montreal in July 2025. This is a recording of a talk by Participatory Economy Project member and accountant, Anders Sandström on adding realism to the Participatory Economy Model. View the slides that accompany
- [Computer Simulations of Participatory Planning - by Mitchell Szczepanczyk](https://participatoryeconomy.org/computer-simulations-of-participatory-planning-by-mitchell-szczepanczyk/) - The International Network for Democratic Economic Planning (INDEP) held their first international conference, called Democratic Economic Planning for the Real World in Montreal in July 2025. This is a recording of a talk by Participatory Economy Project member and software-engineer, Mitchell Szczepanczyk about computer simulations of Participatory Planning. View the slides that accompany this talk.
- [Democratic Planning for the Real-World Conference](https://participatoryeconomy.org/democratic-planning-for-the-real-world-conference/) - The international network for democratic planning held its first ever in-person conference. It took place in Montreal in July 2025 and members of the Participatory Economy Project attended and gave presentations. In this episode, PEP members will discuss what they thought of the event. The international network for democratic planning: https://www.indep.network/ INDEP yt channel: / @indep-networkfordemocraticecon
- [A Participatory Economy in brief - by Robin Hahnel](https://participatoryeconomy.org/a-participatory-economy-in-brief-by-robin-hahnel/) - The International Network for Democratic Economic Planning (INDEP) held their first international conference, called Democratic Economic Planning for the Real World in Montreal in July 2025. This is a recording of a talk by Participatory Economy Project member and Professor of Economics, Robin Hahnel on a brief introduction to the Participatory Economy model. View the
- [Autonomy Is a Human Right: Why Self-Managed Workplaces Should Be the Norm](https://participatoryeconomy.org/autonomy-is-a-human-right-why-self-managed-workplaces-should-be-the-norm/) - The political left has historically talked about democracy as a value—something good, something we strive toward. It’s often framed ideologically, as a political ideal or social vision. But democracy is more than just a noble aspiration. Science now unequivocally tells us that autonomy—the ability to make choices and have control over our lives—is a basic
- [Can System Change solve Climate Change?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/can-system-change-solve-climate-change/) - What kinds of change are possible or desirable in the face of an imminent climate crisis? Can climate change be solved with economic system change - or are we too late for that? How deep are the trade-offs between values like democracy, efficiency, equity and sustainability? All these questions are discussed in this episode of
- [The Participatory Economy model and the shortcomings of economic models](https://participatoryeconomy.org/the-participatory-economy-model-and-the-shortcomings-of-economic-models/) - The Participatory Economy model is the most concrete and elaborate proposal for how an alternative non-authoritarian democratically planned economy could function presented so far. Since its first presentation, it has been discussed, further developed and scrutinised in numerous subsequent books, articles, panel discussions, and debates on various forums. However, just like any other economic model,
- [Labor Time Accounting: A Postmortem](https://participatoryeconomy.org/labor-time-accounting-a-postmortem/) - In the history of economic thought few questions have evoked greater controversy than this one: “What does it truly cost society to produce different goods and services?” It may come as a surprise to socialists today that Karl Marx was not the first economist to answer: “The number of hours of labor required to produce
- [Income in a Post-Capitalist Society: Who Decides?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/income-in-a-post-capitalist-society-who-decides/) - The question of income in a socialist society has been debated for a long time, going all the way back to Marx’s famous slogan "From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs”, published in his Critique of the Gotha Programme in 1875. What anti-capitalists all agree on is the need to
- [Dissent on Mars: Coming to Steam on April 7th](https://participatoryeconomy.org/dissent-on-mars-coming-to-steam-on-april-7th/) - Finally, after 5+ years of development, Dissent on Mars is coming to Steam on April 7th! To help celebrate, we’ve released an updated version of the trailer. Check it out: This game simulates a variety of different economies, including a participatory economy! You can create a character and take them through the democratic planning process. You'll select
- [On transitioning to a participatory economy](https://participatoryeconomy.org/on-transitioning-to-a-participatory-economy/) - I wrote a recent essay on how the model of a participatory economy (MPE) can help preserve the environment. I reposted that essay on Daily Kos, a website aligned with the Democratic party in the United States. My goal was to widen awareness of MPE with an audience that I thought might be receptive, but
- [The value of participatory self-management viewed from five different schools of philosophical thought](https://participatoryeconomy.org/the-value-of-participatory-self-management-viewed-from-five-different-schools-of-philosophical-thought/) - The following fictional text deals with the question of how people should reasonably decide. In the text, various figures appear who, from their respective perspectives, attempt to clarify the value of participatory self-management. Democratic theory, communitarianism, autonomy and self-determination, ethical pluralism and justice, and, last but not least, discourse ethics are the five philosophical schools
- [How does a participatory economy protect the environment?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/how-does-a-participatory-economy-protect-the-environment/) - Both market economies and command-planning economies are and were poor stewards of the natural environment (to put it mildly). Theorists of market economies, for example, relegated the natural environment to the category of "externalities", which is shorthand for "things we ignore and don't need to worry about". This is proving to be woefully shortsighted as
- [Why a Participatory Economy is Crucial for Developing Democratic Planning for the Future](https://participatoryeconomy.org/this-is-only-the-beginning-why-democratic-planning-and-the-participatory-economy-model-are-essential-to-the-future-of-our-modern-societies/) - At its core, the participatory economy model addresses fundamental and often evaded questions about creating more democratic and equitable economies. Co-developed by economist Robin Hahnel, who studied under the legendary moral and legal philosopher John Rawls at Harvard, the model provides a detailed framework for just wealth distribution and effective economic sustainability—concepts that are increasingly
- [Prefiguration: How to get from here to there](https://participatoryeconomy.org/prefiguration-how-to-get-from-here-to-there/) - For those who want a better world, a common question arises: "How do we get there?". One answer has been put forward a long time ago: prefiguration.
- [Explaining Communal Income and Why it is Essential to Socialism](https://participatoryeconomy.org/explaining-communal-income-and-why-it-is-essential-to-socialism/) - Introduction A Participatory Economy1 is usually summarised by a list of five canonical features, namely: Social ownership; Democratic councils and confederations (worker and consumer); Participatory planning (annual planning and long-term development planning); Equitable remuneration for work (according to effort/sacrifice); Balanced division of labour (balanced jobs). However, hidden within item 4 (“equitable remuneration for work”) is
- [Launch of a new Network for Democratic Economic Planning](https://participatoryeconomy.org/launch-of-a-new-network/) - We are excited to announce that the Participatory Economy Project (PEP) has joined a new international network which has launched in July 2024, called INDEP - The International Network for Democratic Economic Planning. Over the last few months several of our members in PEP have been working with others from the democratic planning community to
- [Media in a Participatory Economy](https://participatoryeconomy.org/media-in-a-participatory-economy/) - For more than a decade, I had focused most of my political activism on media -- making media (television, radio, writings, internet work), challenging dominant media, and working on government policy related to media. Then I spent a number of years away from activism, and then I returned to being politically active but I switched,
- [Announcing a new project: The Participatory Planning Interactive Prototype (PPIP)](https://participatoryeconomy.org/announcing-a-new-project-the-participatory-planning-interactive-prototype-ppip/) - We’ve been talking for a long time about the idea of creating a basic software of participatory planning that enables people to take part in a simplified version of the annual participatory planning procedure. I’m glad to announce that we’ve finally started work on it! We present to you PPIP (pronounced “pee-pip”): the Participatory Planning
- [Labour Costs in a Participatory Economy](https://participatoryeconomy.org/labour-costs-in-a-participatory-economy/) - Labour is a productive resource, which, together with manufactured and natural capital, defines the productive capacity of worker councils. A worker council in a participatory economy does not have a wage bill, it does not pay wages. Instead, it is charged a fee for access to categories of labour, which is paid to the Society
- [Our response to 'What's Left of Philosophy' Podcast](https://participatoryeconomy.org/our-response-to-whats-left-of-philosophy-podcast/) - The popular What’s Left of Philosophy podcast reviewed the post-capitalist model of a Participatory Economy in a recent episode. What did they think? What did they get right? What did they miss? Mitchell, Robin and Antti respond. Their original podcast episode: 76 | For and Against Participatory Planning & Economics: https://pod.link/1544487624/episode/3... What’s Left of Philosophy
- [Participatory Planning Simulation: Pollutants Update](https://participatoryeconomy.org/participatory-planning-simulation-pollutants-update/) - PEP members have been working on a computer simulation software for Annual Participatory Planning, called Pequod. Software developer, Mitchell Szczepanczyk, presents a new version of the software, called Pequod-Plus, which now has pollutants added to the planning procedure. This is a significant next step in demonstrating how participatory planning can generate accurate pricing of pollution
- [Ejidos and Agriculture in a Participatory Economy](https://participatoryeconomy.org/ejidos-in-a-participatory-economy-robin-hahnel/) - In Mexico, an ejido refers to village lands communally held in the traditional indigenous system of land tenure that combines communal ownership with individual use. Ejidos were recognized legally 100 years ago following the Mexican Revolution to combat extreme land ownership by the elite. In this program, Robin Hahnel will discuss the lessons of the
- [Implementing the Participatory Economy model in a real-world economy](https://participatoryeconomy.org/implementing-the-participatory-economy-model-in-a-real-world-economy/) - In this seminar, watch Anders Sandström, author of Anarchist Accounting, and Ferdia O'Driscoll from Bright Age Beyond, talk about a new book they are co-authoring, which critically explores what they see as gaps between the model of a Participatory Economy presented so far and the implementation of the model in a real-world economy. They propose
- [Reform vs Revolution: can welfare states lead to system change?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/reform-vs-revolution-can-welfare-states-lead-to-system-change/) - It’s an age-old question: reform or revolution? Or, to put it another way, can welfare states be a laboratory for social change? in this episode of PEP talk we discuss the Meidner plan in Sweden in the 1970s, the Finnish welfare state and any lessons we can draw for establishing a full scale Participatory Economy.
- [Industry Federations](https://participatoryeconomy.org/industry-federations/) - Every worker council in a participatory economy belongs to a federation based on what it produces. And every industry federation is part of a federation structure with several levels and possibly also geographical divisions within the National Federation of Worker Councils, which represents every worker in every worker council in the whole economy. The acting
- [Does climate change mean the end of economic growth?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/does-climate-change-mean-the-end-of-economic-growth/) - Does climate change mean the end of economic growth? How is value even measured and what does the term ‘economic throughput’ mean? Do we need to de-growth or a steady state economy? Do we need system change and to replace capitalism in order to prevent cataclysmic climate change? All these questions are discussed in this
- [Pt2: Challenging Keynes, economists reactions, regrets | with Robin Hahnel](https://participatoryeconomy.org/pt2-challenging-keynes-economists-reactions-regrets-with-robin-hahnel/) - Second of a two-part episode recorded in London, UK. Mitchell interviews Robin Hahnel about a variety of different topics relating to a Participatory Economy. About PEP Talk PEP Talk: The Participatory Economy Podcast is a podcast where we discuss the democratic alternative to capitalism known as a Participatory Economy, featuring co-creator of the model and
- [Post-plan adjustments during a year](https://participatoryeconomy.org/post-plan-adjustments-during-a-year/) - The annual planning procedure results in an agreed plan for all consumption and production that will take place in the economy in the year ahead. One way to describe an agreed annual plan is to say that it consists of a set of individual production plans for all active workplaces, a set of individual consumption
- [Pt1: Expectations, hopes, opportunities | with Robin Hahnel](https://participatoryeconomy.org/pt1-expectations-hopes-opportunities-with-robin-hahnel/) - First of a two-part episode recorded in London, UK. Mitchell interviews Robin Hahnel about a variety of different topics relating to a Participatory Economy. About PEP Talk PEP Talk: The Participatory Economy Podcast is a podcast where we discuss the democratic alternative to capitalism known as a Participatory Economy, featuring co-creator of the model and
- [A Green Post-Capitalist Economy](https://participatoryeconomy.org/a-green-post-capitalist-economy/) - The truth is that many socialists were “Johnny-Come-Latelies” to environmental awareness. But wanting an economy to be environmentally sustainable is not the same as designing an economy so that it will be environmentally sustainable. The model of a post-capitalist economy, known as “a participatory economy” is a concrete description of how we can organise an
- [Dissent on Mars: choose your economic system in this video game](https://participatoryeconomy.org/dissent-on-mars-choose-your-economic-system-in-this-video-game/) - PEP Talk host Mitchell interviews games designer Michael Hicks about his new game ‘Dissent on Mars’, where players can choose and experiment with the economic system they want for their colony on planet Mars. Players can choose between capitalism, central planning and democratic planning, which is based on and inspired by the Participatory Economy model.
- [Dissent on Mars Announced: Create a Participatory Economy on Mars and Live In It](https://participatoryeconomy.org/dissent-on-mars-announced-create-a-participatory-economy-on-mars-and-live-in-it/) - Hey everyone! My name is Michael Hicks. This is my first article, but you may have seen me in the forums. In fact, if you look at the forum statistics, I’m by far the most active user! Take that Robin Hahnel! Anyway, besides being a forum junkie, I’m also an independent game designer. I’m currently making a game called Dissent on
- [Democratic Economic Planning: How to Do it!](https://participatoryeconomy.org/democratic-economic-planning-how-to-do-it/) - Many today realise that neoliberal capitalism has become a disaster. Some believe the only realistic alternative is social democratic capitalism. Others believe market socialism is possible, and even better. While others believe that democratic socialist planning is both possible and what is needed if humans are to survive and thrive during the 21st century. There
- [Prices in a Participatory Economy](https://participatoryeconomy.org/prices-in-a-participatory-economy/) - Why do we need prices in an economy and how are they generated differently in a Participatory Economy compared to a Capitalist Economy? This episode of PEP Talk is all about prices. What are “indicative prices'' in the annual participatory planning procedure? What are opportunity costs, social costs and “externalities”? What’s the problem with prices
- [<strong>A PARTICIPATORY ECONOMY: What’s in a Name?</strong>](https://participatoryeconomy.org/a-participatory-economy-whats-in-a-name/) - Four decades ago Michael Albert and I discussed what to call our post-capitalist economic proposal at some length. If memory serves we spent more than a year thinking about a suitable name, and mulling over different alternatives. Since our model abolished private ownership by “capitalists” of what socialists had long called “the means of production,”
- [Economic System Change or Climate Change](https://participatoryeconomy.org/economic-system-change-or-climate-change/) - If neoliberal capitalism is on track to trigger catastrophic and irreversible climate change, what are the alternatives to it? A Sustainability, Equality and Climate Action seminar at Queens University Belfast on the 27th June 2023 with Robin Hahnel, veteran activist and scholar, on how we should think about and respond to ecocidal and climate destroying
- [International Trade](https://participatoryeconomy.org/international-trade/) - As part of the long term development and strategic planning, a Participatory Economy discusses and agrees on policies for trade and financial interactions with external economies, the balance between exports and imports, import restrictions for the protection of domestic industries or the environment, export subsidies to support newly started exporting industries, etc. Direct foreign investments
- [Logistics and Distribution](https://participatoryeconomy.org/logistics-and-distribution/) - Logistics is the distribution of goods and services across space and over time, how something is moved from one place to another and in what order. This far, there have been no substantive proposals made about logistics in a participatory economy. For a number of reasons, it makes sense to organise and fund logistical systems
- [Public Service Systems and Collective Consumption](https://participatoryeconomy.org/public-service-systems-and-collective-consumption/) - The provision of collective services differs from the production of individually consumed goods and services in many aspects. In this article I discuss these differences as I see them and my thoughts on the organisation of collective consumption in a Participatory Economy. What are public goods? Public goods are goods and services that are available
- [Marx and a Participatory Economy](https://participatoryeconomy.org/marx-and-a-participatory-economy/) - Karl Marx is the most cited author in the world. But what would Marx think of our post-capitalist vision of a Participatory Economy? In this episode Robin and Mitchell look at what Marxism is and how Marx relates to a Participatory Economy, an economy where workers self-manage their workplaces and keep the fruits of their
- [A Socialist Economy without Numbers?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/a-socialist-economy-without-numbers/) - Can a post-Capitalist socialist Economy exist without numbers? There are those who think it can. In this episode Mitchell, Robin and Antti are joined by accountant Anders Sandström (Author of Anarchist accounting) to discuss the topic of numbers in a socialist economy. Do we need numbers to measure the true social costs and opportunity costs
- [Housing in a Participatory Economy](https://participatoryeconomy.org/housing-in-a-participatory-economy-2/) - Housing is a very special type of good. It is essential for society since everybody needs a place to live and it consists of buildings that will stand for a very long time, often hundreds of years. This means that from the perspective of society, housing is an important long-term asset that will affect and
- [PareComic: A graphic novel about a Participatory Economy](https://participatoryeconomy.org/parecomic-a-graphic-novel-about-a-participatory-economy/) - Mitchell and Antti talk with Sean Michael Wilson about his graphic novel about a Participatory Economy, called “PareComic: The Story of Michael Albert and Participatory Economics”. 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of PareComic. What inspired him to write it? How has it faired? And what have been people’s reactions to it? Introduction by Noam Chomsky:“Parecomic
- [Strategy: from Capitalism to Participatory Socialism](https://participatoryeconomy.org/strategy-from-capitalism-to-participatory-socialism/) - In terms of strategy, how can we move towards a Participatory Economy? Robin, Mitchell and Antti discuss strategy to move towards a post-capitalist economy that’s free, greener and fairer, we call a Participatory Economy. What do you think the best strategy or the best strategies are? leave a comment below and let us know. About
- [Book Interview Pt2: A Participatory Economy | Work,Planning, Reproductive Labour](https://participatoryeconomy.org/book-interview-pt2-a-participatory-economy-workplanning-reproductive-labour-with-robin-hahnel/) - The book A Participatory Economy (AK Press, Hahnel) was released in October 2022. It presents a coherent alternative to capitalism. Thomas Piketty describes it as: “A key contribution to the on-going debate on democratic and participatory socialism. A must read!” This is part two of a three part interview with the author, economist and activist,
- [Book Launch Webinar | A Participatory Economy](https://participatoryeconomy.org/book-launch-webinar-a-participatory-economy-robin-hahnel/) - In this recorded webinar, economist and political activist, professor Robin Hahnel gives a presentation of his new book A Participatory Economy (2022), highlighting the latest features of his coherent vision for an alternative to capitalism, known as a Participatory Economy. The presentation is followed by questions and answers from a U.S and European audience. The
- [Book Interview Pt3: A Participatory Economy | Long-term Planning](https://participatoryeconomy.org/book-interview-pt3-a-participatory-economy-long-term-planning-with-robin-hahnel/) - The book A Participatory Economy (AK Press, Hahnel) was released in October 2022. It presents a coherent alternative to capitalism. Thomas Piketty describes it as: “A key contribution to the on-going debate on democratic and participatory socialism. A must read!” This is the final part of a three-part interview with the author, economist and activist,
- [PEP Talk: The Participatory Economy Podcast | Trailer](https://participatoryeconomy.org/pep-talk-the-participatory-economy-podcast-trailer/) - In this podcast, co-creator and economist, Robin Hahnel, is joined by fellow advocates Mitchell Szczepanczyk and Antti Jauhiainen to discuss questions and topics relating to a Participatory Economy, post-capitalism and how we can get there. Where to listen to PEP Talk Whatch on YouTube Find PEP Talk via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and Google
- [Book Interview Pt1: A Participatory Economy | Origins, goals & vision | with Robin Hahnel](https://participatoryeconomy.org/book-interview-pt1-a-participatory-economy-origins-goals-vision-with-robin-hahnel/) - The book A Participatory Economy (AK Press, Hahnel) was released in October 2022. It presents a coherent alternative to capitalism. Thomas Piketty describes it as: “A key contribution to the on-going debate on democratic and participatory socialism. A must read!” This is part one of a three part interview with the author, economist and activist,
- [Cyber Socialism in Practice - Project Cybersyn](https://participatoryeconomy.org/cyber-socialism-in-practice-project-cybersyn/) - Project Cybersyn, or ‘Cyber Socialism’, was an early attempt at democratic planning in Chile from 1971 to 1973 during the Salvador Allende government. The main goal was to use computers to do allocation of resources and to devolve decision-making power within industries to workplaces. How does Project Cybersyn relate to a Participatory Economy, and what
- [What’s the name of the Model?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/whats-the-name-of-the-model/) - What we now call a Participatory Economy has gone through various names over the years. Some call the post-capitalist system ‘Parecon’ for short, others ‘Participatory Economics’. What’s the history of these names, which are better or worse, and why does a name even matter? About PEP Talk PEP Talk: The Participatory Economy Podcast is a
- [A Participatory Economy and International trade](https://participatoryeconomy.org/a-participatory-economy-and-international-trade/) - Any future socialist economy, like a Participatory Economy, would still need to do trade with other countries. By what rules would a Participatory Economy engage in trade and investment with other capitalist or non-capitalist economies? How would trade be organised in a way that is consistent with our values of equity, self-management, solidarity and ecological
- [Is a Participatory Economy Practical?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/is-a-participatory-economy-practical/) - Is a Participatory Economy really practical or is it just a pipe dream? Can citizens through their workers’ councils and neighbourhood councils really cooperate in annual planning to coordinate their activities themselves, without any markets, or without central planning? About PEP Talk PEP Talk: The Participatory Economy Podcast is a podcast where we discuss the
- [Do we need a Post Capitalist vision?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/do-we-need-a-post-capitalist-vision/) - Why do we need to think about vision for a postcapitalist economy? What are the benefits of thinking through how a new economic system might work, and what are the possible drawbacks of doing so? About PEP Talk PEP Talk: The Participatory Economy Podcast is a podcast where we discuss the democratic alternative to capitalism
- [Is a Participatory Economy a Blueprint?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/is-a-participatory-economy-a-blueprint/) - Many socialists are cautious about developing too detailed visions of a post-capitalist system and prefer to leave it to future citizens to work out. Is the Participatory Economy model a blueprint? Does it go into too much detail about things that we can’t yet know about? About PEP Talk PEP Talk: The Participatory Economy Podcast
- [How did you become interested in a Participatory Economy?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/how-did-you-become-interested-in-a-participatory-economy/) - What is the story behind the creation of a Participatory Economy? Robin Hahnel, talks about his student days and how he came to work alongside fellow co-creator Michael Albert to devise the Participatory Economy post-captialist economic model. Robin is also joined by other Participatory Economy supporters who talk about some of the reasons why they
- [What is a Participatory Economy?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/what-is-a-participatory-economy/) - A Participatory Economy (sometimes known as ‘Parecon’) is a model for a new democratic, fair and green economic system. What are its goals and key features? Robin Hahnel, co-creator of the model, introduces a basic overview of a Participatory Economy. About PEP Talk PEP Talk: The Participatory Economy Podcast is a podcast where we discuss
- [Participatory Planning Stockholm Talk](https://participatoryeconomy.org/participatory-planning/) - Originally published on 17 Oct 2012 Robin Hahnel on participatory planning at ABF-huset in Stockholm.
- [Simulation Experiments of Participatory Annual Planning](https://participatoryeconomy.org/simulation-experiments-of-participatory-annual-planning/) - Originally published on 05 Dec 2020 "Computer Simulation Experiments of Participatory Annual Planning" presentation by Hahnel, Sczcepanczyk, and Weisdorf at the Systems Science Noon Seminar on the 12/4/2020.
- [Democratic Planning and Ecology - Robin Hahnel Conference Talk](https://participatoryeconomy.org/democratic-planning-and-ecology-robin-hahnel-conference-talk/) - Speakers: Mary Mellor, Fikret Adaman, Robin Hahnel The Research Centre on Social Innovation and Transformation organised three conferences on democratic economic planning at the Great Transition event in Montreal on Sunday May 23rd 2021 (Facebook event). The event was streamed online via zoom and free of charge. The panel discussed how a democratic economic planning
- [Podcast: Anarchist Accounting](https://participatoryeconomy.org/podcast-anarchist-accounting/) - In this essay, Anders Sandström explores the history of accounting and argues for the need for accounting and bookkeeping also in a future anarchist economy without private capital owners, such as in a Participatory Economy. Anders Sandström is a trained accountant with a degree from Uppsala University and the author of Anarchist Accounting (Routledge 2020),
- [Planning a democratic economy w/ Robin Hahnel on the This is Hell! Podcast](https://participatoryeconomy.org/planning-a-democratic-economy-w-robin-hahnel-on-the-this-is-hell-podcast/) - Interview starts at 11:10 mins Robin Hahnel speaks with Chuck Mertz on the This is Hell! podcast about a Participatory Economy. This is Hell is a weekly longform political interview program broadcast across Chicago on WNUR since 1996. View This is Hell! here
- [Reproductive labor in a Participatory Economy - Savvina Chowdhury](https://participatoryeconomy.org/reproductive-labor-in-a-participatory-economy-savvina-chowdhury/) - Savvina Chowdhury presents a talk from the 'Crisis of the Nation State - Anarchist Answers' conference, which was held at the Freiburg University of Education in March 2021. More videos from the conference can be found here
- [Anarchist Accounting: accounting principles for a democratic economy](https://participatoryeconomy.org/anarchist-accounting-accounting-principles-for-a-democratic-economy-anders-sandstrom/) - Anders Sandström presents a talk from the ‘Crisis of the Nation State – Anarchist Answers’ conference, which was held at the Freiburg University of Education in March 2021. The presentation is about accounting principles for a Participatory Economy. Here is a section from the blurb of the book Anarchist Accounting: 'It explores what information and
- [A political system for a good society](https://participatoryeconomy.org/a-political-system-for-a-good-society-stephen-shalom/) - Stephen Shalom presents a talk from the ‘Crisis of the Nation State – Anarchist Answers’ conference, which was held at the Freiburg University of Education in March 2021. The presentation is about a new political system called 'Participatory Polity'. A democratic political system based on Self-Management that bypasses the need for governments. Participatory polity was
- [Participatory Investment and Development Planning](https://participatoryeconomy.org/participatory-investment-and-development-planning/) - Robin Hahnel presents a talk Participatory investment and development planning, from the Crisis of the Nation State – Anarchist Answers conference, which was held at the Freiburg University of Education in March 2021. More videos from the conference can be found here Up to now, the literature on a Participatory Economy has focused on how workers
- [Interview with Stephen Shalom on democracy and nested councils](https://participatoryeconomy.org/interview-with-stephen-shalom-on-democracy-and-nested-councils/) - Stephen Shalom talks with Thomas Stölner about a system of democracy based on federations of nested councils. This new political system is called a Participatory Polity - a democratic political system based on Self-Management that bypasses the need for governments. Participatory polity was conceived to exist along side a Participatory Economy. This talk precedes the
- [The Case Against Markets](https://participatoryeconomy.org/the-case-against-markets/) - Originally published on 22 Sept 2012. Robin Hahnel speaking at University of Helsinki (11th September, 2012) about some of the structural problems of market systems. The talk was organized by Parecon Finland.
- [Researching "third way" democratically-run economies with Clojure (Script)](https://participatoryeconomy.org/researching-third-way-democratically-run-economies-with-clojure-script/) - For most of the twentieth century, the main models of organizing an economy were markets (“capitalism”) or state-run command planning (“socialism” / “communism”). But since 1991, there has emerged research into a “third way” of organizing an economy, described with the term “democratic planning”. This slideshow presentation was given online for the Chicago Clojure Meetup
- [An Introduction to a Participatory Economy](https://participatoryeconomy.org/an-introduction-to-a-participatory-economy/) - This session is from the Democratizing Work global forum (5-7 Oct. 2021) where many activists from the Participatory Economy community took part. Chair: Jason Chrysostomou (The Participatory Economy Project) Speakers: Peter Bohmer (Evergreen State College), Joona-Hermanni Mäkinen (Parecon Finland), Fintan Bradshaw (The Participatory Economy Project) More videos from the event hereDemocratizing Work’s website
- [Democratic Economic Planning - Book Discussion](https://participatoryeconomy.org/democratic-economic-planning-book-discussion/) - This session is from the Democratizing Work global forum (5-7 Oct. 2021) where many activists from the Participatory Economy community took part. This panel is a discussion on a new book by economist Robin Hahnel, called Democratic Economic Planning, (2021, Routledge). Democratic Economic Planning presents a concrete proposal for how to organize, carry out, and
- [Democratic Planning and the Environment](https://participatoryeconomy.org/democratic-planning-and-the-environment/) - A talk on how participatory planning protects the environment. Participatory planning is a version of democratic planning whereby citizens, through federations of self-managing worker and consumer councils, take part in an annual decentralised procedure to cooperatively plan the economy as an alternative to markets. This presentation introduces a pollution demand revealing mechanism and communities of
- [Housing in a Participatory Economy - Part 1A](https://participatoryeconomy.org/housing-in-a-participatory-economy/) - In this interview, Robin Hahnel talks to After the Oligarchy about housing, construction, and land, in a Participatory Economy. Contents00:00 - Introduction 00:50 - Democratic Economic Planning, Engineers/Economists 05:00 - Q1 - Housing 13:05 - Q2 - Who Collects? 21:10 - Q3 - Opportunity Cost of Land 26:55 - Q4 - Differences in Housing 28:35
- [Consumption, Consumerism, Advertising in a Participatory Economy - Part 1B](https://participatoryeconomy.org/consumption-consumerism-advertising-in-a-participatory-economy-part-1b/) - In this interview, Robin Hahnel talks to After the Oligarchy about Consumption, Consumerism and Advertising in a Participatory Economy. Contents00:00 – Introduction 00:57 – Q1 - Overselling: Consumer Councils 10:45 – Q2 - Overselling: Worker Councils 23:35 – Q3 - Conspicuous Consumption 33:40 – Q4 - Disposable / Throwaway Society 37:10 – Q5 - Consumer Federation Competition
- [Participatory Planning with Robin Hahnel](https://participatoryeconomy.org/participatory-planning-with-robin-hahnel/) - An interview with Professor Robin Hahnel on the Alpha to Omega podcast show. Prof. Hahnel and previous guest Michael Albert are the people who came up with Participatory Economy, or Parecon, a vision of a de-centrally planned socialist economy. We discuss Participatory Planning and Allocation in great detail! Alpha To Omega Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TomOBrienFromAlphaToOmega
- [Does Central Planning Allow Worker Control? - Part 2](https://participatoryeconomy.org/does-central-planning-allow-worker-control-part-2/) - In this interview, Prof. Hahnel talks to After the Oligarchy about worker self-management in Participatory Economics, and whether worker self-management can be reconciled with central planning. After the Oligarchy on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCALTTHVqDWPs3NdBnEbUQLw
- [Worker Councils, Labour Cost, Automation - Part 3](https://participatoryeconomy.org/worker-councils-labour-cost-automation-part-3/) - In this interview, Prof. Hahnel talks to After the Oligarchy about the accounting of social benefits and social costs in worker councils, the incentives of worker councils, the cost of labour, automation, unemployment. After the Oligarchy YouTube Channel.
- [Wage Labour through the Back Door? - Part 4](https://participatoryeconomy.org/wage-labour-through-the-back-door-part-4/) - In this interview, Prof. Hahnel talks to After the Oligarchy about who gets to be a worker council member, outsourcing, and exploitation. Could a Participatory Economy introduce wage labour through the back door? After the Oligarchy YouTube Channel.
- [Optimal Plan, Worker Control, Consumers - Part 5](https://participatoryeconomy.org/optimal-plan-worker-control-consumers-part-5/) - In this interview, Prof. Hahnel talks to After the Oligarchy about an optimal/efficient plan in a Participatory Economy, accounting in socialism, enterprise incentives, worker control, and consumer satisfaction. After the Oligarchy YouTube Channel.
- [Interview on a Participatory Economy with Robin Hahnel on the PostCapitalism Podcast](https://participatoryeconomy.org/interview-on-a-participatory-economy-with-robin-hahnel-on-the-postcapitalism-podcast/) - In this episode of the PostCapitalism Podcast, Chris Wellard interviews Robin Hahnel, who, in In this episode of the PostCapitalism Podcast, Chris Wellard interviews Robin Hahnel, who, in partnership, with Michael Albert developed a model called a “Participatory Economy”. His latest book, “Democratic Economic Planning”, was published in 2021, and forms the basis for their
- [Monopoly? Essential Sectors? - Part 6](https://participatoryeconomy.org/monopoly-essential-sectors-part-6/) - In this interview, Prof. Hahnel talks to After the Oligarchy about monopoly & oligopoly, how to regulate monopoly in capitalism, how to regulate monoply in parecon, how to organise strategic & essential sectors (like health) in parecon. After the Oligarchy YouTube Channel.
- [Robin Hahnel on a Participatory Economy - Future Histories Podcast (Part 1)](https://participatoryeconomy.org/robin-hahnel-on-a-participatory-economy-future-histories-podcast-part-1/) - Robin Hahnel, co-creator of the Participatory Economy model, one of the most comprehensive models for democratic economic planning, is interviewed on the Future Histories Podcast. This is part one of a two part interview. The Future Histories Podcast: https://www.futurehistories.today
- [Robin Hahnel on a Participatory Economy – Future Histories Podcast (Part 2)](https://participatoryeconomy.org/robin-hahnel-on-a-participatory-economy-future-histories-podcast-part-2/) - Robin Hahnel, co-creator of the Participatory Economy model, one of the most comprehensive models for democratic economic planning, is interviewed on the Future Histories Podcast. This is part two of a two part interview. The Future Histories Podcast: https://www.futurehistories.today
- [Part 1/3 - Introduction & Goals of a Participatory Economy](https://participatoryeconomy.org/introduction-and-goals/) - A talk by professor Robin Hahnel introducing the background and goals of a Participatory Economy. Originally published on 24 Feb 2015. The talk is split into three parts:Part 1/3 – Introduction & Goals of a Participatory EconomyPart 2/3 – Institutions of a Participatory EconomyPart 3/3 – Participatory Economy Q&A
- [Part 2/3 - Institutions of a Participatory Economy](https://participatoryeconomy.org/part-2-3-institutions-of-a-participatory-economy/) - Part two of a talk by professor Robin Hahnel introducing the key institutions that make up a Participatory Economy: Social Ownership of the Productive CommonsDemocratic Worker and Consumer CouncilsJobs balanced for empowerment and desirabilityIncome for effort and needAn annual Participatory Planning procedure Originally published on 24 Feb 2015. The talk is split into three parts:Part
- [Part 3/3 – Participatory Economy Q&A](https://participatoryeconomy.org/part-3-3-participatory-economy-qa/) - Part three of a talk by professor Robin Hahnel on a Participatory Economy responding to questions from the audience. Originally published on 24 Feb 2015. The talk is split into three parts:Part 1/3 – Introduction & Goals of a Participatory EconomyPart 2/3 – Institutions of a Participatory EconomyPart 3/3 – Participatory Economy Q&A
- [A Participatory Economy - Book Discussion at Firestorm Bookstore](https://participatoryeconomy.org/a-participatory-economy-book-discussion/) - Radical economist Robin Hahnel joins the Firestorm bookstore co-operative for a virtual discussion with Ferdia O'Brien about his new book, A Participatory Economy (October 2022). A Participatory Economy (AK Press, R.Hahnel) is written for people who desire an equitable, ecological economy, but want to know what an alternative to capitalism could look like. Follow Firestorm
- [The Economic Choice Beyond Capitalism and Communism](https://participatoryeconomy.org/the-economic-choice-beyond-capitalism-and-communism/) - Originally published on 19 Jan 2013. Robin Hahnel is interviewed by PopulistDialogues. He talks about his new book, Of the People, By the People, The Case for a Participatory Economy. Excerpt: 'Political economist Robin Hahnel returns as the guest this week talking about his new book, Of the People, By the People, The Case for
- [An Accounting System for a Libertarian Socialist Economy](https://participatoryeconomy.org/an-accounting-system-for-a-libertarian-socialist-economy/) - The general definition of accounting is something like: "the collection, registration, aggregation and reporting of financial transactions in companies or organisations to provide the necessary information to make and evaluate financial decisions". As long as we live in a society with scarce resources, then non-capitalist and democratic economies organised around self-managed workplaces and neighbourhoods, will ALSO need
- [The Allocation of Capital Goods](https://participatoryeconomy.org/the-allocation-of-capital-goods/) - In this article I explore the challenges of allocating and pricing access to existing capital goods in a Participatory Economy. Capital goods are long-term physical assets that a workplace uses in their production process to make finished products and services. For example: buildings, machinery, equipment, vehicles, and tools. In a Participatory Economy, capital goods, like
- [Coordination and Support Units](https://participatoryeconomy.org/coordination-and-support-units/) - A modern economy is very much interconnected. Many decisions and activities are intertwined, have widespread effects on different actors, and need coordination. In the case of a future Participatory Economy, in addition to the annual participatory planning procedure, all the various actors in the economy, including the public service systems, neighbourhood councils, consumer federations, worker
- [Second-hand goods](https://participatoryeconomy.org/second-hand-goods/) - The procedure for allocating resources, goods and services in a participatory economy– the participatory planning procedure – does not deal explicitly with the exchange of already produced goods, so called second-hand goods. Second hand goods in this context can be defined as goods that already have been asked for, produced and delivered in accordance with
- [Arguments against balancing jobs between workplaces](https://participatoryeconomy.org/arguments-against-balancing-jobs-between-workplaces/) - In a participatory economy, jobs are recommended to be balanced for empowerment and desirability. A workplace is expected to combine tasks into jobs, so that everyone in the workplace has a job which is roughly comparable in terms of empowerment and desirability as others whom they work with. Every worker council is responsible for balancing
- [Economic Democracy](https://participatoryeconomy.org/economic-democracy/) - A text from a talk at the Center for Ethics and Public Affairs at the Murphy Institute at Tulane University in New Orleans Louisiana, April 2022. What is economic democracy? How might economic democracy be achieved? To pretend I could lay matters to rest regarding the answer to either question would be ridiculous, not merely
- [Economic Justice](https://participatoryeconomy.org/economic-justice/) - A text from a talk at the Center for Ethics and Public Affairs at the Murphy Institute at Tulane University in New Orleans Louisiana, April 2022. What is economic justice? How might economic justice be achieved? To pretend I could lay matters to rest regarding the answer to either question would be ridiculous, not merely
- [10 of 10: A Review of other Democratic Planning Models](https://participatoryeconomy.org/10-of-10-a-review-of-other-democratic-planning-models/) - This is the tenth and final part of ten extracts from the book Democratic Economic Planning (2021, Routledge) by Robin HahneI. In this introduction to the appendix of the book, Hahnel compares the Participatory Economy model with five other proposals for how to do democratic economic planning, highlighting areas of agreement and disagreement. This includes a review
- [Product Categorisation and Costing in a Participatory Economy](https://participatoryeconomy.org/product-categorisation-and-costing-in-a-participatory-economy/) - Participatory Planning and Accounting Coordination of economic relations among producers and consumers in a participatory economy is primarily done via a unique democratic planning procedure called participatory planning, whereby self-managed worker and consumer councils and federations propose and revise their own production and consumption plans, over several iterations which gradually leads to a viable, efficient,
- [9 of 10: The Socialist Calculation Debate a Century Later](https://participatoryeconomy.org/9-of-10-the-socialist-calculation-debate-a-century-later/) - This is an extract from the conclusion to the book Democratic Economic Planning (2021, Routledge) by Robin HahneI. The socialist calculation debate was always about whether it was reasonable to expect a decider would be capable of calculating an efficient comprehensive plan for the economy. It was not about whether associated producers – that is, worker and
- [8 of 10: Development Planning for International Trade, Education and the Environment](https://participatoryeconomy.org/8-of-10-development-planning-for-international-trade-education-and-the-environment/) - The introduction to part five of the book, which introduces different kinds of participatory long-run development plans for planning horizons covering multiple decades. This is the eighth part of ten extracts from the book Democratic Economic Planning (2021, Routledge) by Robin HahneI. Introduction to Part V Part V is concerned with different kinds of long-run, development planning.
- [7 of 10: Long-term Planning](https://participatoryeconomy.org/7-of-10-long-term-planning/) - This is the seventh part of ten extracts from the book Democratic Economic Planning (2021, Routledge) by Robin HahneI. How can longer-term investment and development planning be organised, carried out, and integrated in order to maximise democratic participation and efficiency? Introduction to Part IV We have covered a lot of ground. We have explained how a participatory
- [6 of 10: Reproductive Labor in a Participatory Economy](https://participatoryeconomy.org/6-of-10-reproductive-labor-in-a-participatory-economy/) - This is the sixth part of ten extracts from the book Democratic Economic Planning (2021, Routledge) by Robin HahneI. How is care giving and domestic housework, which involves the maintenance of social and family structures upon which productive labor depends, addressed in a Participatory Economy? Reproductive labor in the participatory economy In a participatory economy people will
- [5 of 10: Is a Participatory Economy a practical possibility?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/5-of-10-is-a-participatory-economy-a-practical-possibility/) - This is the fifth part of ten extracts from the book Democratic Economic Planning (2021, Routledge) by Robin HahneI. Would participatory planning work in the real-world? How many iterations would participatory planning take? This is the conclusion of chapter 9 on the results of a computer simulation of participatory planning, which explores how practical and robust a real-world
- [Participatory Economics and The Commons](https://participatoryeconomy.org/participatory-economics-and-the-commons/) - This is the Sidore Lecture delivered at Keene State College in New Hampshire on October 8, 2013: What is the commons? What should the commons include? What responsibilities do we, the present generation, have as stewards to protect the commons for future generations? Who should the commons benefit? Who should decide how the commons is
- [4 of 10: How will workplaces know what to produce?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/4-of-10-how-will-workplaces-know-what-to-produce/) - This is the fourth part of ten extracts from the book Democratic Economic Planning (2021, Routledge) by Robin HahneI. Some critics have dismissed participatory planning on the belief that it is impractical to expect consumers to specify what they want during annual participatory planning in sufficient detail for producers to know what to produce. In this short
- [3 of 10: Calculating the price of pollution in Participatory Planning](https://participatoryeconomy.org/3-of-10-calculating-the-price-of-pollution-in-participatory-planning/) - This is the third part of ten extracts from the book Democratic Economic Planning (2021, Routledge) by Robin HahneI. Market economies fail to account for the cost of pollution. How does a Participatory Economy do better? Here Robin Hahnel describes how annual Participatory Planning can generate quantitative information about pollution caused via a pollution demand revealing mechanism
- [2 of 10: Answering 'There is No Alternative'](https://participatoryeconomy.org/2-of-10-answering-there-is-no-alternative/) - This is the second of ten extracts from the book Democratic Economic Planning (2021, Routledge) by Robin HahneI. It is the introduction to PART III ‘A participatory economy’. Answer to Auntie Tina [Capitalism] is not a success. It is not intelligent, it is not beautiful, it is not just, it is not virtuous – and
- [1 of 10: Going beyond social democratic capitalism](https://participatoryeconomy.org/going-beyond-social-democratic-capitalism-democratic-economic-planning-1-of-10/) - This is the first of ten extracts from the new book Democratic Economic Planning (2021, Routledge) by Robin Hahnel. This article is taken from chapter two on Social Democratic Capitalism. It argues that while social democratic capitalism is better than neoliberal capitalism, it is still not good enough, that markets are inefficient, labor markets are
- [Anders Sandstrom interviews Robin Hahnel about Democratic Economic Planning](https://participatoryeconomy.org/anders-sandstrom-interviews-robin-hahnel-about-democratic-economic-planning/) - This interview was first published in Swedish in the magazine Arbetaren and translated into English below. Anders: With so many problems that need to be addressed with great urgency – climate change, the rise of right wing authoritarianism, racism and sexism, escalating economic inequality, dangerous great power rivalries – why spend time discussing how a
- [Towards an improved process for balancing jobs](https://participatoryeconomy.org/towards-an-improved-process-for-balancing-jobs/) - One of the main institutions of a participatory economy is that jobs are balanced for desirability and empowerment. That is, the collection of tasks that a person does in their work are comparably desirable and comparably empowering to the collection of tasks that every one does in their work[1]. I would like to explore some
- [Meeting Practices in a Participatory Economy](https://participatoryeconomy.org/meeting-practices-in-a-participatory-economy/) - In capitalist economies, most of us are excluded from decision-making. Workplaces have hierarchical structures and when one does find oneself in a meeting, the experience can often be frustrating and disempowering. This is true for the political sphere of life too. While we can turn up every 5 years to cast a vote in a
- [Innovation](https://participatoryeconomy.org/innovation/) - Do individuals in a participatory economy have an incentive to search for innovations, and do workers councils have an incentive to implement productive innovations once they’re found? A participatory economy does not reward those who discover productive innovations with vastly greater consumption rights than others that make comparable personal sacrifices or effort in their work.
- [Why isn't the participatory economy model more popular?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/why-isnt-the-participatory-economy-model-more-popular/) - "[W]hen we wonder what to put in [place of capitalism], we are extremely perplexed", so said the noted economist John Maynard Keynes. The British economist Alec Nove put it in even more stark terms, writing that you have either markets or central planning, "there is no third way." And yet, this year (2021) marks the
- [Protecting the Natural Environment](https://participatoryeconomy.org/protecting-the-natural-environment/) - Do the basic institutions of a participatory economy – democratic worker and consumer councils and federations, remuneration according to effort and need, jobs balanced for empowerment and desirability, and participatory planning – create an institutional setting and incentives that promote judicious relations with our natural environment? As long as producers and consumers are not forced
- [Of the People, By the People Q&A](https://participatoryeconomy.org/of-the-people-by-the-people-qa/) - Robin Hahnel's Of the People, By the People: The case for a participatory economy (Soapbox Press, 2012, distributed by AK press, www.akpress.org) is the latest and most accessible presentation of his argument that a new economy—based on equality, participation, solidarity, and self-management—is both desirable and possible. Originally formulated by Hahnel and Michael Albert more than two decades
- [What is an Economy?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/economy-systems-thinking/) - This article is intended as a basic primer for understanding of what an economy is, the key features of different economic systems and laying a foundation for thinking about economic vision. Society Human beings are a social species. Throughout history people have created social institutions in order to help meet their needs and desires. In
- [What's Wrong With Markets?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/whats-wrong-with-markets/) - The text below is from a virtual talk given by Robin Hanhel about the problems with Markets to Noam Chomsky’s class at University of Arizona in Tucson AZ on the 26 January 2021. There are four reasons to reject markets if you want to build a desirable economy: Contrary to what most economists will tell you,

## Pages

- [A Participatory Economy - English](https://participatoryeconomy.org/)
- [Participatory Planning](https://participatoryeconomy.org/the-model/participatory-planning/) - Any economy has to have a system for deciding what particular goods and services to produce and therefore how to best make use of its scarce productive resources for fulfilling human wants and needs. In capitalism, allocation happens through market exchange, where privately-owned firms compete against one another for profits, set prices, use advertising to influence
- [Donate](https://participatoryeconomy.org/donate/) - Please consider donating to the Participatory Economy Project. Your support will help us with our work in research, education, advocacy & prefiguration to advance a democratic alternative to capitalism known as a Participatory Economy. Make a one-off donation Make a recurring donation
- [Partizipatorische Planung](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/das-modell/partizipatorische-planung/) - Jede Wirtschaft muss über ein System verfügen, mit dem entschieden werden kann, welche Waren und Dienstleistungen produziert werden sollen und wie die knappen Produktionsressourcen am besten für die Befriedigung menschlicher Wünsche und Bedürfnisse genutzt werden können. Im Kapitalismus erfolgt die Verteilung durch den Tausch auf dem Markt, wo private Unternehmen miteinander um Gewinne konkurrieren, Preise
- [Selbstverwaltete Nachbarschaft](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/das-modell/selbstverwaltete-nachbarschaft/) - Heute sind die Leute frei, auf wettbewerbsorientierten Märkten zu kaufen, was sie wollen. Die Organisation des Konsums auf diese Weise hat jedoch eine Reihe von Problemen. Die Einkommensungleichheit führt zu einem "Ein Dollar, eine Stimme"-System, so dass die produzierten Dinge in erster Linie denjenigen zugute kommen, die mehr Geld haben; viele Märkte sind Monopole oder
- [Selbstverwalteter Arbeitsplatz](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/das-modell/selbstverwalteter-arbeitsplatz/) - Jeder Arbeitsplatz erfordert Strukturen und Verfahren für die Entscheidungsfindung. Heutzutage sind Arbeitsplätze als hierarchische Top-down-Unternehmen organisiert, in denen diejenigen an der Spitze über weitaus mehr Macht und Einkommen verfügen. Wie können wir die Arbeit gerechter organisieren und den Arbeitern die Möglichkeit geben, sich an der Entscheidungsfindung zu beteiligen? Die Ziele eines partizipatorischen Arbeitsplatzes sind: Jedem
- [Self-managing Workplace](https://participatoryeconomy.org/the-model/participatory-workplace/) - Every workplace requires structures and procedures for making decisions. Today, workplaces are organised as top-down hierarchical corporations where those at the top have far greater power and income. How can we organise work more equitably and allow workers to participate in decision making? The goals of a participatory workplace are to: Provide every worker with
- [Überblick](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/das-modell/uberblick/) - Das Modell der Partizipatorischen Ökonomie, auch bekannt als Participatory Economics oder Parecon, wurde von den Wirtschaftswissenschaftlern Michael Albert und Robin Hahnel entwickelt und 1991 in der Princeton University Press erstmals offiziell vorgestellt. Unter Rückgriff auf libertär-sozialistische Ideen und reale Beispiele aus der Geschichte wollten sie Hoffnung wecken, Strategien aufzeigen und demonstrieren, dass eine lebensfähige und
- [Self-managing Neighbourhood](https://participatoryeconomy.org/the-model/participatory-neighbourhood/) - Today, people are free to buy what they want in competitive markets. However organising consumption like this has a number of problems. Income inequality creates a "one dollar, one vote" system, so the things produced are skewed towards those with more money; many markets are monopolies or oligopolies; collective services are underproduced; and, our wants
- [Laden Sie einen Redner ein](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/laden-sie-einen-redner-ein/) - Wenn Sie einen der unten aufgeführten Redner einladen möchten, einen Vortrag über das Modell der partizipativen Wirtschaft oder verwandte Themen zu halten, nehmen Sie bitte Kontakt mit uns auf.
- [Invite a Speaker](https://participatoryeconomy.org/invite-a-speaker/) - If you would like to invite a speaker listed below to present on the Participatory Economy model or related topics, please get in touch.
- [Overview](https://participatoryeconomy.org/the-model/overview/) - The Participatory Economy model, also known as Participatory Economics, or Parecon, was developed by economists Michael Albert and Robin Hahnel and first formally presented in 1991 in Princeton University Press. Drawing on libertarian socialist ideas and real-world examples throughout history, their motivation was to inspire hope, inform strategy and to demonstrate that a viable and better
- [About](https://participatoryeconomy.org/about/) - The Participatory Economy Project is an independent not-for-profit think tank. Our Mission To explore and promote a vision for a democratic alternative to capitalism, known as a Participatory Economy. Our Vision Our vision is an economy where there are no longer private shareholder corporations and markets, nor top-down centralised planning. Instead, it is an economy where:
- [Kontakt](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/kontakt/) - Wenn Sie Fragen zum Modell der Partizipativen Ökonomie haben, lesen Sie bitte unsere HGF-Seite oder beteiligen Sie sich an der Diskussion in unserem Gemeinschaftsforum. Wenn Sie sich mit einer Anfrage an uns wenden möchten, senden Sie bitte eine E-Mail an: hello@participatoryeconomy.org Wir werden versuchen, Ihnen innerhalb von 48 Stunden zu antworten. Vielen Dank!
- [Über](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/uber/) - Wir sind das Projekt Partizipative Wirtschaft. Unser Auftrag Unsere Aufgabe ist es, Vertrauen in die Lebensfähigkeit eines radikalen neuen postkapitalistischen Wirtschaftssystems zu schaffen, das auf Zusammenarbeit, Nachhaltigkeit und demokratischer Teilhabe beruht und als partizipative Wirtschaft bezeichnet wird. Was wir tun Wir erreichen dies durch: Forschung: Durchführung von Qualitätsforschung und ExperimentenInteressenvertretung: Produzieren von Inhalten und Halten
- [HGF](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/hgf/) - [epkb-knowledge-base id=1]
- [Das Modell](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/das-modell/)
- [Eine Partizipatorische Ökonomie](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/eine-partizipatorische-okonomie/)
- [Contact](https://participatoryeconomy.org/contact/) - If you have any questions about the Participatory Economy model, please see our FAQs page or join in the discussion in our community forum. If you'd let to get in touch with us with an enquiry, please send an email to: hello@participatoryeconomy.org We will aim to reply to you within 48 hours. Thanks.
- [Article Guidelines](https://participatoryeconomy.org/article-guidelines/) - We welcome article submissions to this site. Please follow the guidelines below and then send your article to: hello@participatoryeconomy.org. Our editorial team will review your submission and if suitable will aim to publish it within two weeks. Please follow the guidelines below: The author should be familiar with the Participatory Economy model.The text should be
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- [The Model](https://participatoryeconomy.org/the-model/)
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## Knowledge Base

- [Wie kommen wir zu einer partizipatorischen Ökonomie?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/wie-kommen-wir-zu-einer-partizipatorischen-okonomie/) - Eine neue Ökonomie zu verwirklichen wird Zeit brauchen, aber es gibt mindestens fünf Bereiche, in denen Menschen, die einen Systemwandel wünschen, in naher Zukunft Fortschritte verzeichnen sollten: Größere und stärkere Reformbewegungen in allen Bereichen des gesellschaftlichen Lebens. Ziel muss es sein, eine stärkere Unterstützung für den sozialen Wandel in der Mehrheit der Bevölkerung zu schaffen.
- [Wird die persönliche Freiheit geopfert?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/wird-die-personliche-freiheit-geopfert/) - Die partizipatorische Ökonomie ist so konzipiert, dass die Menschen ihr eigenes Wirtschaftsleben im Rahmen einer gleichberechtigten Zusammenarbeit mit anderen selbst bestimmen können. Die freie Wahl des Konsums, des Beschäftigungsverhältnisses, der beruflichen Laufbahn und des Wohnsitzes sowie die Wahrung der Privatsphäre sind in einer partizipatorischen Ökonomie uneingeschränkt gewährleistet. In einer partizipatorischen Ökonomie steht es den Menschen
- [Ist das mit der Natur des Menschen vereinbar?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/ist-das-mit-der-natur-des-menschen-vereinbar/) - Eine partizipatorische Ökonomie geht von der Annahme aus, dass die Menschen ein homo oeconomicus sind, d.h. dass sie aus Eigeninteresse handeln. Sie geht ganz sicher nicht davon aus, dass die Menschen "revolutionäre Heilige" sind, die im Dienste des sozialen Interesses (d. h. der sozialen Effizienz und Gerechtigkeit) handeln, um dann tautologisch zu verkünden, dass dem
- [Gibt es nicht noch mehr im Leben als Wirtschaft?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/gibt-es-nicht-noch-mehr-im-leben-als-wirtschaft/) - Ja! Das soziale Leben des Menschen ist mehr als nur eine Frage der Wirtschaft. Der Mensch ist eine soziale Spezies, und im Laufe der Geschichte haben die Menschen soziale Einrichtungen geschaffen, um ihre Bedürfnisse und Wünsche zu erfüllen. Um stabil und effektiv zu sein, muss eine Gesellschaft mehrere Funktionen erfüllen. Neben der Schaffung wirtschaftlicher Institutionen
- [Ist das eine Blaupause?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/ist-das-eine-blaupause/) - Nein, das Modell der partizipatorischen Ökonomie wird als flexible und undogmatische Vision vorgeschlagen, um die Bemühungen und Experimente zur Erreichung einer besseren Wirtschaft zu inspirieren. Es ist sicherlich nicht als Blaupause gedacht. Es listet eine Reihe von Zielen oder Werten auf, die eine Wirtschaft anstreben sollte, sowie ein Mindestmaß an Institutionen, die für die Fähigkeit
- [Was ist der Anreiz für Innovation?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/was-ist-der-anreiz-fur-innovation/) - Eine partizipative Wirtschaft belohnt diejenigen, denen es gelingt, nützliche Erfindungen zu entdecken, nicht mit weitaus mehr Konsumrechten als andere, die gleichwertige persönliche Belastungen in ihrer Arbeit auf sich nehmen. Stattdessen legt sie den Schwerpunkt auf die direkte gesellschaftliche Anerkennung herausragender Leistungen, und zwar aus einer Reihe von Gründen. Erstens ist eine erfolgreiche Erfindung oft das
- [Wird es nicht zu viele Sitzungen geben?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/wird-es-nicht-zu-viele-sitzungen-geben/) - Es ist wichtig, zunächst festzustellen, dass die Zeit für Besprechungen in unseren bestehenden Volkswirtschaften weit von Null entfernt ist. Konzeption, Koordination und Entscheidungsfindung sind Teil der Produktionsorganisation in jedem System. In hierarchisch organisierten Produktionssystemen verbringen nur relativ wenige Beschäftigte die meiste ihrer Zeit damit, nachzudenken und sich zu treffen, und der Rest der Beschäftigten tut
- [Schließen ausgewogene Tätigkeitsbündel nicht eine Spezialisierung aus und verschwenden knappe Talente?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/schliesen-ausgewogene-tatigkeitsbundel-nicht-eine-spezialisierung-aus-und-verschwenden-knappe-talente/) - Nein. Ausgewogene Tätigkeitsbündel sind nicht dazu gedacht, Spezialisierung zu vermeiden. Sie sind darauf ausgerichtet, eine ungleiche Stärkung von Menschen über die Arbeit zu vermeiden. Die Aufgaben, die jeder ausführt, müssen nicht jeden Tag, jede Woche oder sogar jeden Monat im Hinblick auf die Befähigung oder die Attraktivität ausgeglichen werden. Es gibt einen großen Spielraum bei
- [Ist es nicht schwierig, Mühe und Belastung zu messen?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/ist-es-nicht-schwierig-muhe-und-belastung-zu-messen/) - Zunächst einmal ist es jedem Betrieb selbst überlassen, wie er die Unterschiede in der Mühe und Belastung zwischen den Betrieben messen will. Betrachten wir der Reihe nach einige der verschiedenen Möglichkeiten, wie ein Betrieb dies tun könnte. Ein Betrieb könnte eine oder eine Kombination der folgenden Möglichkeiten wählen: Dauer: Ein Betrieb könnte sich dafür entscheiden,
- [Kann die Belohnung von Mühe wirklich effizient sein?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/kann-die-belohnung-von-muhe-wirklich-effizient-sein/) - Unterschiede im Wert der Beiträge von Personen sind auf Unterschiede im Talent, in der Ausbildung, in der Arbeitsvermittlung, im Glück und in der Anstrengung zurückzuführen. Wenn wir eine Komponente der Mühe bei der Ausbildung in unsere Definition von Mühe einbeziehen, ist der einzige beeinflussbare Faktor, der sich auf die Leistung auswirkt, die Mühe, und daher
- [Was ist der Anreiz, sich zu bilden oder auszubilden?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/was-ist-der-anreiz-sich-zu-bilden-oder-auszubilden/) - In einer partizipatorischen Wirtschaft erhalten diejenigen, die über eine bessere Bildung und Ausbildung verfügen, keine höheren Löhne, da dies ungerecht wäre. Das heißt aber nicht, dass die Menschen nicht versuchen würden, ihre Produktivität zu steigern. Die Kosten für die allgemeine und berufliche Bildung würden öffentlich und nicht privat getragen, so dass es keine materiellen Nachteile
- [Welche Anreize gibt es, zu arbeiten?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/welche-anreize-gibt-es-zu-arbeiten/) - Eine partizipatorische Wirtschaft ist darauf ausgerichtet, das Motivationspotenzial nicht-materieller Anreize zu maximieren. Es besteht die begründete Hoffnung, dass Arbeitsplätze, die von den Arbeitern gestaltet werden, freudvoller sein werden als solche, die von Kapitalisten gestaltet werden. Es gibt auch Grund zu der Annahme, dass die Menschen eher bereit sind, Aufgaben auszuführen, die sie selbst vorgeschlagen und
- [Gibt es Geld in einer partizipatorischen Ökonomie?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/gibt-es-geld-in-einer-partizipatorischen-okonomie/) - In einer partizipativen Wirtschaft gibt es eine Währung. Allerdings gibt es einige wichtige Unterschiede zum heutigen Geld. Das Einkommen und damit die Währung in einer partizipatorischen Ökonomie ist nicht übertragbar. Sie können Ihr Einkommen nicht auf eine andere Person oder Organisation übertragen (mit Ausnahme der Umverteilung des Einkommens innerhalb des eigenen Verbraucherrats für besondere Bedürfnisse).
- [Muss ich wissen, was ich im kommenden Jahr konsumieren möchte?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/muss-ich-wissen-was-ich-im-kommenden-jahr-konsumieren-mochte/) - Nein, es wird nicht erwartet, dass Sie im Detail wissen, was Sie im kommenden Jahr konsumieren wollen. Ein individueller Verbrauchsvorschlag ist lediglich die beste Schätzung eines Verbrauchers, was er im kommenden Jahr konsumieren wird, indem er aus einer Liste breiter Warenkategorien auswählt, z. B. „Schuhe“, „Fahrräder“ und „Computer“. Dabei werden zunächst die Daten aus dem
- [Kann Selbstverwaltung in größeren Betrieben mit vielen Leuten funktionieren?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/kann-selbstverwaltung-in-groseren-betrieben-mit-vielen-leuten-funktionieren/) - Ja. Größere Betriebe können sich in einer Struktur aus miteinander verbundenen kleineren, halbautonomen Räten organisieren. Jeder der gebildeten Räte könnte ein Team, eine Abteilung, ein Projekt oder ein anderer Funktionsbereich sein, der für den jeweiligen Betrieb sinnvoll ist. Jeder Rat hätte ein Entscheidungsrecht bei Entscheidungen, die nur ihn betreffen. Für Entscheidungen, die den gesamten Betrieb
- [Wie stellt ein Betrieb Mitglieder ein oder entlässt sie?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/wie-stellt-ein-betrieb-mitglieder-ein-oder-entlasst-sie/) - Die genauen Verfahren für die Einstellung oder Entlassung eines Mitglieds sind unterschiedlich und werden in der Satzung des jeweiligen Betriebs festgelegt und von den Mitgliedern demokratisch beschlossen. Man kann davon ausgehen, dass die Entscheidung, wer eingestellt werden soll, von allen Arbeitern getroffen wird, mit denen der neue Mitarbeiter zusammenarbeiten wird, und nicht nur von einigen
- [Führt die Arbeiterselbstverwaltung nicht zum Ausschluss von Fachwissen?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/fuhrt-die-arbeiterselbstverwaltung-nicht-zum-ausschluss-von-fachwissen/) - Das Argument des "Fachwissens" versäumt es, zwischen der legitimen Rolle des Fachwissens und einer unnötigen Anmaßung von Entscheidungsgewalt zu unterscheiden. In Situationen, in denen die Folgen von Entscheidungen kompliziert und nicht ohne weiteres ersichtlich sind, besteht ein offensichtlicher Bedarf an Fachwissen. Wirtschaftliche Entscheidungen beinhalten jedoch sowohl die Bestimmung als auch die Beurteilung der Folgen. Diejenigen,
- [Sind ausgewogene Tätigkeitsbündel dasselbe wie eine Arbeitsrotation?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/sind-ausgewogene-tatigkeitsbundel-dasselbe-wie-eine-arbeitsrotation/) - Nein, es geht nicht darum, dass jeder jede Aufgabe ausführt oder dass alle Tätigkeiten abwechselnd erledigt werden. Ein ausgewogenes Tätigkeitsbündel wird immer noch nur eine kleine Anzahl von Aufgaben umfassen. So wird es beispielsweise immer noch Arbeiter geben, die sich auf die Chirurgie, die Architektur, das Ingenieurwesen und so weiter spezialisieren. Wenn jedoch die spezialisierten
- [Was sind die Vorteile davon, Tätigkeiten auszugleichen?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/was-sind-die-vorteile-davon-tatigkeiten-auszugleichen/) - Der Nutzen davon Tätigkeiten in einer partizipatorischen Ökonomie auszubalancieren besteht darin, sicherzustellen, dass alle Arbeiter eine relativ gerechte Verteilung von befähigenden und entmündigenden Aufgaben beanspruchen können, um die Beteiligung der Arbeiter insgesamt zu verbessern. Diese Vorteile zielen nicht nur darauf ab, den Nutzen und die Lasten ökonomischer Aktivitäten zu verteilen, sondern auch darauf, zu verhindern,
- [Werden die Arbeiter ihre Mühen nicht übertreiben?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/werden-die-arbeiter-ihre-muhen-nicht-ubertreiben/) - Die selbstverwalteten Arbeiterräte können selbst entscheiden, wie sie ihr Einkommen unter sich verteilen wollen. Die einzige Einschränkung, die ihnen auferlegt wird, besteht darin, dass das Einkommen, das jeder Arbeiterrat erhält, gedeckelt wird. Dies könnte entweder dadurch geschehen, dass für alle Betriebe dieselbe Obergrenze gilt oder dass sie auf dem Verhältnis zwischen sozialem Nutzen und sozialen
- [Was sind die Hauptaufgaben der Föderationen?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/was-sind-die-hauptaufgaben-der-foderationen-2/) - Jede gewerbliche Föderation ist Teil einer Föderationsstruktur mit mehreren Ebenen innerhalb der Nationalen Föderation der Arbeiterräte, in der jeder Arbeiter in jedem Arbeiterrat in der gesamten Wirtschaft vertreten ist. Die gewerblichen Föderationen spielen eine wichtige Rolle bei der Entwicklungs- und Investitionsplanung. Sie geben Schätzungen über die erwartete künftige technologische Entwicklung ab und treffen Entscheidungen, wie
- [Wie viele Arbeiterföderationen wird es geben?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/wie-viele-arbeiterfoderationen-wird-es-geben/) - Die Organisation der Arbeiterräte in gewerbliche Föderationen ist natürlich eine Sache, über die eine zukünftige partizipative Wirtschaft entscheiden wird. Eine mögliche Branchenklassifizierung der Föderationen könnte jedoch nach der allgemeinen Funktion, die sie erfüllen, wie folgt aussehen: (1) Land- und Forstwirtschaft; (2) Gewinnung von Mineralien; (3) verarbeitendes Gewerbe; (4) Baugewerbe; (5) Güterverkehr und Transport; und (6)
- [Wie kann ein Betrieb die Mitgliedschaft in einer Föderation erwerben oder verlieren?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/wie-kann-ein-betrieb-die-mitgliedschaft-in-einer-foderation-erwerben-oder-verlieren/) - In einer partizipativen Wirtschaft steht es jedem frei, ein neues Unternehmen zu gründen. Ein wichtiger Unterschied zu heute besteht jedoch darin, dass ein neu gegründetes Unternehmen keinen Kredit bei einer Bank beantragt oder Kapital von einem privaten Investor benötigt. Es gibt keine Banken oder Aktienmärkte, da die Produktionsmittel der Gesellschaft gehören. Stattdessen muss eine Betriebsneugründung
- [Warum brauchen wir überhaupt Organisationen für den Konsum?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/warum-brauchen-wir-uberhaupt-organisationen-fur-den-konsum/) - Wie die Produktion ist auch der Konsum eine soziale Tätigkeit. Entscheidungen darüber, was wir konsumieren, haben Einfluss auf andere in der Gesellschaft, und deshalb brauchen wir Institutionen, die die Planung und Koordination des Konsums organisieren. Verbraucherräte und -föderationen sind notwendig, damit sich jeder in der Gesellschaft an der Planung der Wirtschaft beteiligen kann, indem sie
- [Wird es nicht zu viele Treffen geben?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/wird-es-nicht-zu-viele-treffen-geben/) - Für die Planung des Eigenverbrauchs im Rahmen der Jahresplanung müssen Sie sich nicht mit anderen Mitgliedern Ihres Nachbarschaftsrats treffen. Sie können Ihre persönlichen Verbrauchsvorschläge selbst zu Hause erstellen. Um Entscheidungen über den kollektiven Verbrauch zu treffen und Positionen zu besetzen, z. B. die der Delegierten, müssen Treffen organisiert werden, die über das Jahr verteilt sein
- [Wie werden die Entscheidungen in dem Verbraucherrat getroffen?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/wie-werden-die-entscheidungen-in-dem-verbraucherrat-getroffen/) - Ziel ist es, die Selbstverwaltung zu maximieren, indem die Leute in dem Maße mitbestimmen können, wie sie von den Entscheidungen betroffen sind. Im Folgenden werden einige mögliche Ansätze und Techniken vorgestellt, um dieses Ziel zu erreichen und die Beteiligung zu erhöhen. In Sitzungen könnten die Räte partizipatorische Verfahren zur Entscheidungsfindung anwenden. Diese könnten z. B.
- [Worin besteht der Unterschied zum kollektiven Konsum durch eine örtliche Regierungsbehörde heute?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/worin-besteht-der-unterschied-zum-kollektiven-konsum-durch-eine-ortliche-regierungsbehorde-heute/) - Die unterste Regierungsebene, z. B. eine Gemeinde oder ein Bezirk, ist heute ein repräsentatives Gremium, das eine große Anzahl von Menschen umfasst. Die Vertreter werden etwa alle vier Jahre gewählt. Stattdessen ist ein Verbraucherrat ein direktes Entscheidungsgremium, das sich aus einer kleineren Anzahl von Personen zusammensetzt (z. B. 100 Personen, die genaue Zahl variiert und
- [Wenn ich ein Gemeinschaftsgut nicht nutze, muss ich es trotzdem bezahlen?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/wenn-ich-ein-gemeinschaftsgut-nicht-nutze-muss-ich-es-trotzdem-bezahlen/) - Die einzelnen Mitglieder werden mit dem auf sie entfallenden Anteil an den Kosten der Kollektivgüter belastet. Die Gebühr für jedes einzelne Mitglied muss nicht unbedingt gleich hoch sein und könnte darauf abzielen, geschätzte Unterschiede in der Nutzung der Dienstleistung widerzuspiegeln. Es ist Sache der Räte und Föderationen, zu entscheiden, wie sie die Kosten für Gemeinschaftsgüter
- [Welche Dinge sollten sinnvollerweise kollektiv konsumiert werden?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/welche-dinge-sollten-sinnvollerweise-kollektiv-konsumiert-werden/) - In einer partizipatorischen Ökonomie müssen die Bürger dies demokratisch entscheiden. Eine Gesellschaft könnte sich dafür entscheiden, überhaupt keine Gemeinschaftsgüter zu haben, oder sie könnte sich dafür entscheiden, viele zu haben. Einige Dinge sind jedoch sehr sinnvoll, effizienter und umweltfreundlicher, wenn sie gemeinschaftlich genutzt werden. Dazu gehören zum Beispiel Parks, Bibliotheken, Verkehrsmittel, Bildung und Gesundheitswesen. Dazu
- [Warum nicht nur nach dem Bedürfnis zuteilen?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/warum-nicht-nur-nach-dem-bedurfnis-zuteilen/) - Während es sinnvoll ist, Einkommen auf der Grundlage der Bedürfnisse an Benachteiligte oder an diejenigen zuzuteilen, die zu jung oder zu alt sind, um zu arbeiten, wird empfohlen, dass Einkommen, das aus Arbeit bezogen wird, aus den folgenden zwei Gründen für Mühen und Belastungen vergeben wird. Erstens ist es ungerecht - nur nach dem Bedürfnis
- [Was ist mit dem bedingungslosen Grundeinkommen (UBI) oder der bedingungslosen Grundversorgung (UBS)?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/was-ist-mit-dem-bedingungslosen-grundeinkommen-ubi-oder-der-bedingungslosen-grundversorgung-ubs/) - In einer partizipatorischen Ökonomie gibt es ein faires Einkommen aus Arbeit sowie ein Einkommen für Bedürftige, und die Vollbeschäftigung wird durch demokratische Planung sichergestellt. Dies würde den Bedarf an einem bedingungslosen Grundeinkommen (UBI) verringern. Ob eine Form des Grundeinkommens gewählt wird, ist jedoch eine demokratische Entscheidung. Die bedingungslose Grundversorgung hat mit dem nationalen kollektiven Konsum
- [Werden Vertreter in höheren Räten bezahlt?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/werden-vertreter-in-hoheren-raten-bezahlt/) - Ja, die Bezahlung richtet sich nach der Mühe wie bei jeder anderen Tätigkeit in der Wirtschaft.
- [Wie viele Verbraucherföderationsebenen gäbe es?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/wie-viele-verbraucherfoderationsebenen-gabe-es/) - Dies müsste eine künftige partizipatorische Gesellschaft entscheiden und würde von der Bevölkerungsgröße eines Landes abhängen. Wenn zum Beispiel ein Land von der Größe der Vereinigten Staaten mit einer Bevölkerung von etwa 330 Millionen Einwohnern 50 Mitglieder in jedem Rat hätte, wären fünf Föderationsebenen erforderlich, um das ganze Land abzudecken. In Stephen Shaloms Aufsatz über eine
- [Was sind die Hauptaufgaben der Föderationen?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/was-sind-die-hauptaufgaben-der-foderationen/) - Jede gewerbliche Föderation ist Teil einer Föderationsstruktur mit mehreren Ebenen innerhalb der Nationalen Föderation der Arbeiterräte, in der jeder Arbeiter in jedem Arbeiterrat in der gesamten Wirtschaft vertreten ist. Die gewerblichen Föderationen spielen eine wichtige Rolle bei der Entwicklungs- und Investitionsplanung. Sie geben Schätzungen über die erwartete künftige technologische Entwicklung ab und treffen Entscheidungen, wie
- [Worin besteht der Unterschied zu Märkten?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/worin-besteht-der-unterschied-zu-markten/) - Der Unterschied besteht darin, wie über Preise, Produktion, Verbrauch und Einkommen entschieden wird. In einer Marktwirtschaft werden die Preise durch die individuelle Interaktion zwischen einem Käufer und einem Verkäufer festgelegt. In einer partizipatorischen Ökonomie hingegen werden die Preise durch eine jährliche demokratische Planung festgelegt, an der alle Akteure der Gesellschaft beteiligt sind. Dies hat viele
- [Worin besteht der Unterschied zur Befehlsplanung?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/worin-besteht-der-unterschied-zur-befehlsplanung/) - Der Unterschied besteht darin, wie über Preise, Produktion, Verbrauch und Einkommen entschieden wird. In einer zentralen Planwirtschaft werden die Daten gesammelt und die Preise von einem zentralen Planungsgremium festgelegt. In einer partizipatorischen Ökonomie hingegen werden die Preise durch eine jährliche demokratische Planung festgelegt, an der alle Akteure der Gesellschaft beteiligt sind. Dies hat viele Auswirkungen,
- [Ist diese ganze Planung nicht sehr zeitaufwendig?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/ist-diese-ganze-planung-nicht-sehr-zeitaufwendig/) - Es ist wichtig, zunächst festzustellen, dass Planung in jeder Art von Wirtschaft notwendig ist und durchgeführt wird. Der Unterschied besteht darin, dass die Planung in einer partizipatorischen Ökonomie alle einschließt und nicht nur von Regierungs- oder Unternehmenseliten durchgeführt wird. Die Planung würde nur über einige Wochen am Ende eines jeden Jahres stattfinden. In Betrieben wäre
- [Gibt es einen Aktienmarkt?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/gibt-es-einen-aktienmarkt/) - Nein. In einer partizipativen Wirtschaft gibt es kein Privateigentum an produktiven Ressourcen. Das Kapital befindet sich im Besitz der Allgemeinheit (Commons) und Zugang zu ihm wird den Betrieben im Rahmen einer demokratischen Planung zugeteilt. Daher gibt es keine Aktien/Anteile, die gekauft oder verkauft werden können.
- [Kann ich meine persönlichen Ersparnisse für Investitionen nutzen?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/kann-ich-meine-personlichen-ersparnisse-fur-investitionen-nutzen/) - Nein. Ein wesentlicher Unterschied besteht darin, dass in einer partizipativen Wirtschaft die Entscheidung darüber, wie viel des wirtschaftlichen Kuchens für Investitionen, d. h. für die Schaffung neuen Kapitals, wie z. B. neue Maschinen, Technologien usw., verwendet werden soll, in einem demokratischen Prozess für die Gesellschaft als Ganzes getroffen wird. Die Investitionen werden nicht von Einzelpersonen
- [Wie bekomme ich Mittel für eine neue Geschäftsidee, die ich habe?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/wie-bekomme-ich-mittel-fur-eine-neue-geschaftsidee-die-ich-habe/) - Wenn Sie eine Idee haben und zusammen mit anderen ein neues Unternehmen gründen wollen, können Sie einen neuen vorläufigen Arbeiterrat gründen und einen Antrag auf Beitritt zu Ihrer zuständigen Branchenföderation stellen. Wenn Sie zum Beispiel eine neue Pizzeria eröffnen wollten, würden Sie einen Antrag auf Mitgliedschaft in der Gaststättenföderation stellen. Der Antrag wäre vergleichbar mit
- [Wie unterscheidet sich das von der Art und Weise, wie heute Entwicklungsplanung betrieben wird?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/wie-unterscheidet-sich-das-von-der-art-und-weise-wie-heute-entwicklungsplanung-betrieben-wird/) - Die Entwicklungsplanung wird heute von den Zentralregierungen zusammen mit einigen großen Unternehmen durchgeführt. Das Ergebnis hängt von deren Ideologie und engen Geschäftsinteressen ab. Sie schließt die große Mehrheit der Menschen von der Entscheidungsfindung über Entwicklungsprioritäten aus. Im Gegensatz dazu beinhaltet die Entwicklungsplanung in einer partizipativen Wirtschaft demokratische, integrative Verfahren, die eine Beteiligung der Bevölkerung durch
- [Kann ich leihen oder sparen?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/kann-ich-leihen-oder-sparen/) - Ja. Jede Person kann sparen, indem sie weniger ausgibt als sie einnimmt. Wenn jemand mehr Einkommen braucht, als er hat, kann er einen Kredit beantragen. Darlehensanträge könnten von einer Organisation bearbeitet werden, die einer heutigen Kreditgenossenschaft ähnelt.
- [Gibt es irgendwelche Beispiele für eine partizipatorische Ökonomie im Einsatz?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/gibt-es-irgendwelche-beispiele-fur-eine-partizipatorische-okonomie-im-einsatz/) - In der Geschichte wurden Merkmale einer partizipatorischen Ökonomie in vielen verschiedenen Teilen der Welt umgesetzt, unter anderem in Südamerika und während der Spanischen und Russischen Revolutionen, wo Arbeiter Netzwerke von selbstverwalteten Räten und Föderationen bildeten. In der heutigen Welt finden sich Elemente einer partizipatorischen Ökonomie in ihrer Umsetzung, wo sich Menschen an partizipativen Finanzplänen beteiligen,
- [Gibt es Klassen in einer partizipatorischen Ökonomie?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/gibt-es-klassen-in-einer-partizipatorischen-okonomie/) - Das Ziel einer partizipatorischen Ökonomie ist es, die Klassenspaltung zu beseitigen, indem wirtschaftliche Unterschiede beseitigt werden, die einige Akteure stärken und andere schwächen, die einige bereichern und andere verarmen lassen oder die einige systematisch gegen andere ausspielen. Die klassenbezogenen Innovationen einer partizipatorischen Ökonomie sind: Es gibt kein Privateigentum an Produktionsmitteln. Alle Akteure haben die gleichen
- [Are there any examples of a Participatory Economy in practice?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/are-there-any-examples-of-a-participatory-economy-in-practice/) - Historically, there have been features of a participatory economy implemented in many different parts of the world, including in South America and during the Spanish and Russian revolutions, where workers formed networks of self-managed councils and federations. In the world today, you can find elements of a participatory economy in action, where people are engaging
- [How is this different to how development planning is done today?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/how-is-this-different-to-how-development-planning-is-done-today/) - Development planning today is done by central governments along with some large corporations. The outcome depends on their ideology and narrow business interests. It excludes the vast majority of people in decision-making over development priorities. In contrast, development planning in a Participatory Economy involves democratic inclusive procedures which enables popular participation through federations of workers’
- [How do I get investment for a startup business idea I have?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/how-do-i-get-investment-for-a-startup-business-idea-i-have/) - If you have an idea and want to start up a new business with a group of others, you can form a new preliminary workers’ council and make an application to join your relevant industry federation. For example if you want to open a new pizzeria, you would apply to join the restaurants federation. The
- [Can I use my personal savings to make investments?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/can-i-use-my-personal-savings-to-make-investments/) - No. A key difference is that in a Participatory Economy the decision over how much of the economic pie should go towards investment, i.e creating new capital, such as new machines, technology, etc, happens via a democratic process for society as a whole. Investment is not made by individuals from personal savings, as is the
- [Is there a stock market?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/is-there-a-stock-market/) - No. There is no private ownership of productive resources in a participatory economy. Capital is owned under the commons and access is distributed to workplaces during democratic planning. Therefore there are no stocks/shares to be bought or sold.
- [Is there money in a Participatory Economy?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/is-there-money-in-a-participatory-economy/) - There is a currency in a Participatory Economy. However, there are some important differences to money today. Income, and therefore currency in a Participatory Economy is non-transferrable. You cannot transfer your income to another person or organisation (with the exception of redistribution of income within one’s consumer council for special needs requests). Whenever you purchase
- [Isn’t all this planning time consuming?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/isnt-all-this-planning-time-consuming/) - It is important to first note that planning is needed and done in any type of economy. The difference is that planning is inclusive in a participatory economy, not done only by government or corporate elites. Planning would only take place over a few weeks at the end of every year. For workplaces, this would
- [How is this different to Command Planning?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/how-is-this-different-to-command-planning/) - The difference is in how prices, production, consumption and income are decided. In a centrally planned economy, data is collected and prices are set by a central planning board. Whereas, in a Participatory Economy, prices are set through annual democratic planning which all actors in society participate in. This has many implications, which you can
- [How is this different to Markets?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/how-is-this-different-to-markets/) - The difference is in how prices, production, consumption and income are decided. In a market economy, prices are set by the individual interaction between a buyer and a seller. Whereas, in a Participatory Economy, prices are set through annual democratic planning which all actors in society participate in. This has many implications, which you can
- [Can I borrow or save?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/can-i-borrow-or-save/) - Yes. Any individual can save by spending less than their income. If someone needs more income than they have, they can make an application to borrow. Loan applications could be handled by an organisation similar to a community credit union today.
- [Will I need to know what to consume one year ahead?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/will-i-need-to-know-what-to-consume-one-year-ahead/) - No, you are not expected to know what you want to consume in any detail for the year ahead. An individual consumption proposal is just a consumer’s best estimate of what they think they will consume in the upcoming year by choosing from a list of broad categories of goods, e.g. “shoes”, “bicycles”, and “computers”.
- [What are the main tasks that consumer federations perform?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/what-are-the-main-tasks-that-consumer-federations-perform/) - The main function consumer federations serve is to make decisions around collective consumption. In every council level from ward up to the national, representatives propose, debate and vote on what collective goods and services to fund for their respective area and submit proposals during the annual participatory planning. During the year, consumer federations negotiate with
- [How many consumer federation levels would there be?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/how-many-consumer-federation-levels-would-there-be/) - This would be for a future participatory society to decide and would depend on the population size of a country. For example, for a country the size of the United States with a population of around 330 million, if there were 50 people on every council, then this would require five federation levels to cover
- [Do representatives in higher councils get paid?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/do-representatives-in-higher-councils-get-paid/) - Yes, pay is according to effort like any other job in the economy.
- [What about Universal Basic Income (UBI) or Universal Basic Services (UBS)?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/what-about-universal-basic-income-ubi-or-universal-basic-services-ubs/) - In a Participatory Economy there is fair income from work as well as income for those in need, and full employment is provided through democratic planning. This would reduce the need for a Universal Basic Income (UBI). However, whether some form of UBI is chosen is a democratic choice. Universal Basic Services (UBS) are to
- [Why not distribute only based on need?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/why-not-distribute-only-based-on-need/) - While it makes sense to distribute income based on need to those who are disadvantaged or to those who are too young or too old to work, it is recommended that income received from work is for effort and sacrifice for the following two reasons. Firstly, it is unfair – only distributing based on need
- [What things make sense to be consumed collectively?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/what-things-make-sense-to-be-consumed-collectively/) - This is up to citizens in a participatory economy to democratically decide. A society could choose to have no collective goods at all, or they could choose to have many. However, some things make a lot of sense and are more efficient and environmentally friendly to be consumed collectively. For example, things like parks, libraries,
- [If I don’t use a collective good, do I still pay for it?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/if-i-dont-use-a-collective-good-do-i-still-pay-for-it/) - Individual members are charged with their share for the cost of collective goods. The charge for each individual member need not necessarily be the same and could aim to reflect estimated differences in the use of the service. It is up to the councils and federations to decide how to distribute costs for collective goods
- [How is this different to collective consumption by a local government body today?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/how-is-this-different-to-collective-consumption-by-a-local-government-body-today/) - The lowest level government body today, such as a borough or district, is a representative body covering a large number of people. Representatives are elected every four years or so. Instead, a neighbourhood consumers’ council is a direct decision-making body made up of a smaller size of people (e.g. 100 people, the exact number will
- [How are decisions made in the consumer council?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/how-are-decisions-made-in-the-consumer-council/) - The goal is to maximise self-management by giving people a say to the degree they are affected by decisions. Below are some possible approaches and techniques towards helping this goal and increasing participation. Within meetings, councils could use participatory decision-making practices. These could include things like using round robins, paired listening, breakout groups, temperature checks,
- [Won’t there be too many neighbourhood meetings?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/wont-there-be-too-many-neighbourhood-meetings/) - For planning individual consumption during the annual planning, you won’t need to meet with others in your neighbourhood council. You can complete your personal consumption proposals by yourself in your home. For making decisions around collective consumption and choosing roles, such as delegates, meetings would need to be organised and can be spaced out during
- [Why do we even need organisations for consumption?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/why-do-we-even-need-organisations-for-consumption/) - Like production, consumption is also a social activity. Decisions about what we consume have an influence on others in society and therefore we need institutions for organising the planning and coordination of consumption. Having consumer councils and federations is necessary to enable everyone in society to participate in planning the economy by providing helpful information
- [How does a workplace gain or lose membership of a federation?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/how-does-a-workplace-gain-or-lose-membership-of-a-federation/) - Anyone is free to start up a new enterprise in a participatory economy. However, an important difference to today is that a startup does not apply for a loan from a bank or seek equity from a private investor. There are no banks or stock markets because productive resources are owned by society. Instead a
- [How many worker federations will there be?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/how-many-worker-federations-will-there-be/) - The organisation of workers’ councils into industrial federations is obviously something that a future participatory economy will decide on. However, a possible industry classification of federations could be according to the general function they perform as follows: (1) agriculture and forestry; (2) extraction of minerals; (3) manufacturing; (4) construction; (5) freight and transport; and (6)
- [What are the main tasks that federations perform?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/what-are-the-main-tasks-that-federations-perform/) - Every industry federation is part of a federation structure with several levels within the National Federation of Worker Councils, which represents every worker in every worker council in the whole economy. The industry federations play an important role in the development and investment planning. They provide estimates of the expected future development of technology, and
- [Won’t workers exaggerate their effort?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/wont-workers-exaggerate-their-effort/) - Self-managed worker councils have autonomy over how they go about distributing income between themselves. The only restriction placed on them is that the income each workers’ council receives is capped. This could be done by either giving the same cap to all workplaces or by basing it on the social benefit to social cost ratio
- [What are the incentives to work?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/what-are-the-incentives-to-work/) - A participatory economy is designed to maximise the motivating potential of non-material incentives. There is reason to hope jobs designed by workers will be more enjoyable than jobs designed by capitalists. Also, there is reason to believe people will be more willing to carry out tasks they have proposed and agreed to themselves than assignments
- [Isn't it difficult to measure effort or sacrifice?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/isnt-it-difficult-to-measure-effort/) - Firstly, each workplace has complete autonomy over how they go about measuring differences in effort or sacrifice between themselves. Let’s consider in turn some of the different ways a workplace might go about this. A workplace could choose one or a combination of the following: Duration: A workplace could decide to simply have the same
- [Won't balancing jobs exclude specialisation and waste scarce talents?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/wont-balancing-jobs-exclude-specialisation-and-expertise-and-waste-scarce-talents/) - No. Balanced jobs are not designed to avoid specialisation. They are designed to avoid disparate empowerment. The tasks each performs do not have to be balanced for empowerment or desirability every day, week, or even every month. There is ample leeway in organising work to accommodate technological and psychological considerations while eliminating large, persistent differences
- [What are the benefits of balancing jobs?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/what-are-the-benefits-of-balancing-jobs/) - The benefits of balancing jobs in a Participatory Economy is to ensure all workers can claim to have a relatively fair distribution of empowering and disempowering tasks in order to enhance overall worker participation. These benefits not only aim to distribute the benefits and burdens of economic activity, but also to prevent hierarchies forming as
- [Is balancing jobs the same as job rotation?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/is-balancing-jobs-the-same-as-job-rotation/) - No, The idea is not that everyone perform every task, or that all jobs are rotated. A balanced job will still only involve a small number of tasks. For example, there will be workers that still specialise in surgery, architecture, engineering and so on. However, if the specialised tasks are more empowering than tasks are
- [Won’t workers’ self-management exclude expertise?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/wont-workers-self-management-exclude-expertise/) - The “expertise” argument fails to distinguish between the legitimate role of expertise and an unnecessary usurpation of decision making power. In circumstances where the consequences of decisions are complicated and not readily apparent, there is an obvious need for expertise. But economic choice entails both determining and evaluating consequences. Those with expertise in a matter
- [How does a workplace hire or dismiss members?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/how-does-a-workplace-hire-or-dismiss-members/) - The exact procedures for hiring or dismissing a member would vary and be written in each workplace’s constitution as decided democratically by its members. You would expect that decisions over who to recruit would involve all workers the new recruit will work with, rather than the decision being made by only a few managers, as
- [Won't there be too many meetings?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/wont-there-be-too-many-meetings/) - It is important to first note that meeting time is far from zero in our existing economies. Conception, coordination, and decision-making are part of the organisation of production under any system. Under hierarchical organisations of production relatively few employees spend most of their time thinking and meeting, and most of the rest of the employees
- [Can self-management work in larger workplaces with lots of people?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/can-self-management-work-in-larger-workplaces-with-lots-of-people/) - Yes. Larger workplaces can organise into a structure of linked smaller semi-autonomous councils. Each council formed could be a team, a department, a project or any other functional area that makes sense to that particular workplace. Each council would have decision-making say over decisions that affect only them. They can send delegates to the highest
- [What is the incentive to train or educate yourself?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/what-is-the-incentive-to-train-or-educate-yourself/) - A participatory economy does not pay those with more education and training higher wages since it would be inequitable to do so. But that does not mean people would not seek to enhance their productivity. The cost of education and training would be born publicly, not privately and so there are no material disincentives to
- [Can rewarding effort really be efficient?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/can-rewarding-effort-really-be-efficient/) - Differences in the value of people’s contributions are due to differences in talent, training, job placement, luck, and effort. If we include an effort component of training in our definition of effort, the only discretionary factor influencing performance is effort, and therefore the only factor we should reward to enhance performance is effort. By definition,
- [What is the incentive for innovation?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/what-is-the-incentive-for-innovation/) - A participatory economy does not reward those who succeed in discovering productive innovations with vastly greater consumption rights than others who make equivalent personal sacrifices in work. Instead it emphasises direct social recognition of outstanding achievements for a variety of reasons. First, successful innovation is often the outcome of cumulative human creativity for which a
- [Is this a blue-print?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/is-this-a-blue-print/) - No, the Participatory Economy model is offered as a flexible and non-dogmatic vision to inform efforts and experiments towards winning a better economy. It is certainly not meant as a blueprint. It lists a number of goals or values that an economy should aim for, and a minimal set of institutions that are essential for
- [Isn't there more to life than economics?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/isnt-there-more-to-life-than-economics/) - Yes! Human social life is more than just about economics. Human beings are a social species and throughout history people have created social institutions in order to help meet their needs and desires. To be stable and effective a society must accomplish several functions. In addition to creating economic institutions to meet material needs and
- [Is this compatible with human nature?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/is-this-compatible-with-human-nature/) - A participatory economy is based on the assumption that people are homo economicus, i.e. that they act out of self-interest. It most certainly does not assume that individuals are “revolutionary saints” who act to promote the social interest (i.e. social efficiency and equity), and then tautologically proclaim that the social interest would, indeed, be served!
- [Is personal freedom sacrificed?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/is-personal-freedom-sacrificed/) - Participatory economics is designed to allow people to control their own economic lives in a context of equitable cooperation with others. Freedom of choice of consumption, employment, career, and residence, as well as personal privacy are fully guaranteed in a participatory economy. People in a participatory economy are free to consume whatever goods and services
- [Are there classes in a Participatory Economy](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/are-there-classes-in-a-participatory-economy/) - The goal of a participatory economy is to eliminate class division by removing economic differences that empower some actors and weaken others, that enrich some and impoverish others, or that pit some systematically against any others. The class-related innovations of a participatory economy are: There is no private ownership of means of production. All actors
- [How do we get from here to a Participatory Economy?](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/how-do-we-get-from-here-to-a-participatory-economy/) - Winning a new economy will take time, but there are at least five areas in which people who want to see system change should want to see progress in the near future: Bigger and stronger reform movements in all spheres of social life. The goal has to be to create stronger support for social change

## Events

- [Democratic Economic Planning: How to Do it!](https://participatoryeconomy.org/event/democratic-economic-planning-how-to-do-it-2/) - Many today realise that neoliberal capitalism has become a disaster. Some believe the only realistic alternative is social democratic capitalism. Others believe market socialism is possible, and even better. While others believe that democratic socialist planning is both possible and what is needed if humans are to survive and thrive during the 21st century. There
- [Democratic Economic Planning - Workshop with Robin Hahnel on his recent book](https://participatoryeconomy.org/event/democratic-economic-planning-workshop-with-robin-hahnel-on-his-recent-book/) - In-Person Author meets Critics Workshop with Robin Hahnel on his recent book Democratic Economic Planning - 8.-9. June 23 @University of Potsdam The participatory economics approach of Robin Hahnel provides a practical alternative to market capitalism. Hahnel emphasizes the importance of including citizens in the running of the economy. His book Democratic Economic Planning provides
- [Democratic Economic Planning: How to Do it!](https://participatoryeconomy.org/event/democratic-economic-planning-how-to-do-it/) - Many today realise that neoliberal capitalism has become a disaster. Some believe the only realistic alternative is social democratic capitalism. Others believe market socialism is possible, and even better. While others believe that democratic socialist planning is both possible and what is needed if humans are to survive and thrive during the 21st century. There
- [A Green Post-Capitalist Economy: Wishing to be ‘green’ isn’t enough](https://participatoryeconomy.org/event/a-green-post-capitalist-economy-wishing-to-be-green-isnt-enough/) - The truth is that many socialists were “Johnny-Come-Latelies” to environmental awareness. But wanting an economy to be environmentally sustainable is not the same as designing an economy so that it will be environmentally sustainable. The model of a post-capitalist economy, known as “a participatory economy” is a concrete description of how we can organise an

## Books

- [Democratic Economic Planning](https://participatoryeconomy.org/book/democratic-economic-planning/) - Democratic Economic Planning presents a concrete proposal for how to organize, carry out, and integrate comprehensive annual economic planning, investment planning, and long-run development planning so as to maximize popular participation, distribute the burdens and benefits of economic activity fairly, achieve environmental sustainability, and use scarce productive resources efficiently. The participatory planning procedures proposed provide
- [A Participatory Economy](https://participatoryeconomy.org/book/a-participatory-economy/) - As of June 2021, 54% of Gen Z adults view capitalism negatively and over 41% have a positive view on socialism. A Participatory Economy is written for people who want equitable, ecological economy, but don't know what an alternative to capitalism could look like. A Participatory Economy presents a fascinating alternative to capitalism. It proposes
- [Economic Justice and Democracy](https://participatoryeconomy.org/book/economic-justice-and-democracy/) - Robin Hahnel explores how we can move from an economy based on competition and greed to one based on cooperation, justice and democracy.
- [Realizing Hope: Life Beyond Capitalism](https://participatoryeconomy.org/book/realizing-hope/) - Albert takes the insights and hopes of parecon and enlarges them to address all key aspects of social life and society.
- [Looking Forward](https://participatoryeconomy.org/book/looking-forward/) - Albert and Hahnel provide a clear, practical, and humane alternative vision for a truly participatory economy.
- [Thinking Forward](https://participatoryeconomy.org/book/thinking-forward/) - A highly accessible and unorthodox approach to thinking about economics. It subverts the elitist and codified world of academic economics by empowering the reader with the tools needed to conceptualize an economy based on progressive and humane values. It challenges the idea -- so prevalent in Western capitalism -- that the best we can hope
- [Liberating Theory](https://participatoryeconomy.org/book/liberating-theory/) - A collectively authored volume that provides a unique conceptual framework for understanding contemporary U.S. society and history, and developing a dynamic vision and strategy for social change.
- [Real Utopia](https://participatoryeconomy.org/book/real-utopia/) - What if we had direct control over our daily lives? What if society's defining institutions—those encompassing economics, politics, kinship, culture, community, and ecology—were based not on competition, individual ownership, and coercion, but on self-management, equity, solidarity, and diversity? Real Utopia identifies and obliterates the barriers to an egalitarian, bottom-up society, while convincingly outlining how to
- [Parecomic](https://participatoryeconomy.org/book/parecomic/) - Introduction by Noam Chomsky Parecomic is a graphic novel about something that affects us all: the system we live in—what's wrong with it, and how we might be able change it for the better. Written by Sean Michael Wilson, and drawn by Carl Thompson, Parecomic is about Michael Albert—the visionary behind "participatory economics"—and his life's
- [Anarchist Accounting](https://participatoryeconomy.org/book/anarchist-accounting/) - Anders Sandstrom explores what information and transactions would need to be recorded in a participatory democratic economy.
- [Alternatives to Capitalism](https://participatoryeconomy.org/book/alternatives-to-capitalism-proposals-for-a-democratic-economy/) - Leading radical thinkers Robin Hahnel and Erik Olin Wright debate their proposals for a democratic alternative to capitalism.
- [The ABCs of Political Economy](https://participatoryeconomy.org/book/the-abcs-of-political-economy/) - A lively and accessible introduction to modern political economy.
- [Of the People, by the People](https://participatoryeconomy.org/book/of-the-people-by-the-people/) - An accessible introduction to the participatory economy model.
- [Parecon: Life after Capitalism](https://participatoryeconomy.org/book/parecon-life-after-capitalism/) - An answer to the constant query put to economic and globalization activists: what do you want?
- [The Political Economy of Participatory Economics](https://participatoryeconomy.org/book/the-political-economy-of-participatory-economics/) - The first presentation of the participatory economy model of how producers and consumers could democratically plan their activities.

## Compare

- [Eigentum am Kapital](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/comparison/eigentum-am-kapital/)
- [Einkommen](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/comparison/einkommen/)
- [Klassen](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/comparison/klassen/)
- [Entscheidungsfindung](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/comparison/entscheidungsfindung/)
- [Verteilung](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/comparison/verteilung/)
- [Arbeitsteilung](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/comparison/arbeitsteilung/)
- [Betrieb](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/comparison/betrieb/)
- [Verbrauch](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/comparison/verbrauch/)
- [Informationen zum Produkt](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/comparison/informationen-zum-produkt/)
- [Die Umwelt](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/comparison/die-umwelt/)
- [Vielfalt](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/comparison/vielfalt/)
- [Wohlbefinden](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/comparison/wohlbefinden/)
- [Bildung](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/comparison/bildung/)
- [Effizienz](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/comparison/effizienz/)
- [Medien](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/comparison/medien/)
- [Land & Wohnen](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/comparison/land-wohnen/)
- [Geld](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/comparison/geld/)
- [Investitionen](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/comparison/investitionen/)
- [Innovation](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/comparison/innovation-2/)
- [Land & Housing](https://participatoryeconomy.org/comparison/land/)
- [Money](https://participatoryeconomy.org/comparison/money/)
- [Investment](https://participatoryeconomy.org/comparison/investment/)
- [Media](https://participatoryeconomy.org/comparison/media/)
- [Innovation](https://participatoryeconomy.org/comparison/innovation/)
- [Efficiency](https://participatoryeconomy.org/comparison/efficiency/)
- [Education](https://participatoryeconomy.org/comparison/education/)
- [Well-being](https://participatoryeconomy.org/comparison/well-being/)
- [Diversity](https://participatoryeconomy.org/comparison/diversity/)
- [The Environment](https://participatoryeconomy.org/comparison/environment/)
- [Product Information](https://participatoryeconomy.org/comparison/consumer-information/)
- [Consumption](https://participatoryeconomy.org/comparison/consumption/)
- [Workplace](https://participatoryeconomy.org/comparison/workplace/)
- [Division of Labour](https://participatoryeconomy.org/comparison/division-of-labour/)
- [Allocation](https://participatoryeconomy.org/comparison/allocation/)
- [Decision-Making](https://participatoryeconomy.org/comparison/decision-making-2/)
- [Classes](https://participatoryeconomy.org/comparison/classes/)
- [Income](https://participatoryeconomy.org/comparison/income-2/)
- [Ownership of Capital](https://participatoryeconomy.org/comparison/ownership-of-capital/)

## Projects

- [Computer Simulations of Participatory Planning](https://participatoryeconomy.org/project/computer-simulations-of-participatory-planning/) - Is it possible for workplaces and neighbourhoods to democratically plan an economy themselves instead of relying on market competition or central planning? Our annual participatory planning procedure provides a possible answer to this question. We describe how worker and consumer councils might cooperate to coordinate their interrelated economic activities themselves -- fairly, sustainably and efficiently (read
- [An Accounting System for a Participatory Economy](https://participatoryeconomy.org/project/an-accounting-system-for-a-participatory-economy/) - This project is to design a theoretical accounting system for a type of libertarian socialist economy, called a Participatory Economy. A libertarian socialist economy will have different values and institutions than a capitalist or state socialist economy regarding decision making, income distribution and ecological sustainability, but if a future libertarian socialist economy is to be
- [PEP Talk: The Participatory Economy Podcast](https://participatoryeconomy.org/project/pep-talk-the-participatory-economy-podcast/) - A bi-monthly podcast dedicated to exploring vision for radical democratic alternative to capitalism and how to get there.
- [Participatory Planning: User Story Mapping](https://participatoryeconomy.org/project/participatory-planning-user-story-mapping/) - A project to design a visual map of the key tasks and activities users will need to take using a participatory planning software.

## Categories

- [Article](https://participatoryeconomy.org/category/article/)
- [Podcast](https://participatoryeconomy.org/category/podcast/)
- [Video](https://participatoryeconomy.org/category/video/)

## Tags

- [audio](https://participatoryeconomy.org/tag/audio/)
- [consumption](https://participatoryeconomy.org/tag/consumption/)
- [environment](https://participatoryeconomy.org/tag/environment/)
- [goals](https://participatoryeconomy.org/tag/goals/)
- [in-depth](https://participatoryeconomy.org/tag/in-depth/)
- [innovation](https://participatoryeconomy.org/tag/innovation/)
- [introduction](https://participatoryeconomy.org/tag/introduction/)
- [markets](https://participatoryeconomy.org/tag/markets/)
- [Participatory Planning](https://participatoryeconomy.org/tag/participatory-planning/)
- [interview](https://participatoryeconomy.org/tag/interview/)
- [talk](https://participatoryeconomy.org/tag/talk/)
- [the commons](https://participatoryeconomy.org/tag/the-commons/)
- [democratic planning](https://participatoryeconomy.org/tag/democratic-planning/)
- [strategy](https://participatoryeconomy.org/tag/strategy/)
- [reproductive labor](https://participatoryeconomy.org/tag/reproductive-labor/)
- [polity](https://participatoryeconomy.org/tag/polity/)
- [participatory democracy](https://participatoryeconomy.org/tag/participatory-democracy/)
- [balanced jobs](https://participatoryeconomy.org/tag/balanced-jobs/)
- [development planning](https://participatoryeconomy.org/tag/development-planning/)
- [investment planning](https://participatoryeconomy.org/tag/investment-planning/)
- [Housing](https://participatoryeconomy.org/tag/housing/)
- [Land](https://participatoryeconomy.org/tag/land/)
- [International trade](https://participatoryeconomy.org/tag/international-trade/)
- [federations](https://participatoryeconomy.org/tag/federations/)
- [media](https://participatoryeconomy.org/tag/media/)
- [income](https://participatoryeconomy.org/tag/income/)
- [life in a participatory economy](https://participatoryeconomy.org/tag/life-in-a-participatory-economy/)
- [conference](https://participatoryeconomy.org/tag/conference/)
- [indep](https://participatoryeconomy.org/tag/indep/)

## Tags

- [English](https://participatoryeconomy.org/)
- [Deutsch](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/)

## Categories

- [Income for Effort](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/category/income-for-effort/)
- [Workers' Federations](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/category/workers-federations/)
- [The Workers' Council](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/category/the-workers-council/)
- [The Consumers' Council](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/category/the-consumers-council/)
- [Participatory Annual Planning](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/category/participatory-annual-planning/)
- [Balanced Jobs](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/category/balanced-jobs/)
- [Income for Need](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/category/income-for-need/)
- [General](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/category/general/)
- [Collective Consumption](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/category/collective-consumption/)
- [Consumers' Federations](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/category/consumers-federations/)
- [Participatory Investment Planning](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/category/participatory-investment-planning/)
- [Participatory Development Planning](https://participatoryeconomy.org/faqs/category/participatory-development-planning/)
- [Ausgeglichene Tätigkeitsbündel](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/category/ausgeglichene-taetigkeitsbuendel/)
- [Kollektiver Konsum](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/category/kollektiver-konsum/)
- [Verbraucherföderationen](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/category/verbraucherfoderationen/)
- [Allgemein](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/category/allgemein/)
- [Der Arbeiterrat](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/category/der-arbeiterrat/)
- [Einkommen für Mühe](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/category/einkommen-fur-muhe/)
- [Arbeiterföderationen](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/category/arbeiterfoderationen/)
- [Partizipatorische Investitionsplanung](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/category/partizipatorische-investitionsplanung/)
- [Partizipative Entwicklungsplanung](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/category/partizipative-entwicklungsplanung/)
- [Der Verbraucherrat](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/category/der-verbraucherrat/)
- [Einkommen nach Bedürfnislage](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/category/einkommen-nach-bedurfnislage/)
- [Partizipatorische Jährliche Planung](https://participatoryeconomy.org/de/faqs/category/partizipatorische-jahrliche-planung/)

## Project Categories

- [Education](https://participatoryeconomy.org/project-category/education/)
- [Research](https://participatoryeconomy.org/project-category/research/)