Economist Robin Hahnel's A Participatory Economy is a practical and efficiently organized book which offers a vision of what large scale and even global economies could look like outside of capitalism. Hahnel also takes time to address authoritarian communist and related regimes and their failings while offering an alternative that allows for worker and consumer autonomy that is lacking in both systems.
Texts like these can be dry, especially if you're not super into reading about economics. Yet, solutions and philosophical exercises in anti-authoritarian- or less authoritarian depending on how you interpret things- societies are critical in terms of having practical solutions to massive and complex problems. This is especially important when addressing the in between times, which Hahnel does well to bring up and address. Even in more practical guides, there is often discussion of what the "after" will be like when the "before" is overcome- if only it were as simple as hopping directly from one to another.
Hahnel also addresses specific criticisms from anarchists and other leftists as well as philosophers and economists across the political spectrum. Even if one doesn't agree with everything he says or puts forward, he offers a way of thinking differently about things rather than just saying others are wrong in big sweeping generalizations. He is able to convey his understanding of their arguments while also expressing why he disagrees.
Throughout the text, Hahnel also specifically addresses issues often left out of economics. In particular, addressing climate change and how to account for not only the human and worker costs of pollutants and emissions, but also the planetary costs stands out. His section on reproductive labor is also important, though it felt a bit more general than the other sections- perhaps because he wanted to make sure he was leaving space for those currently left responsible for most reproductive labor to take the mic.
I do wish these kinds of books talked about disability more. He does mention that disabled people that could not work would be supported, but disability is such a massive and diverse group that quantifying needs and abilities of each person can be extremely complicated. In a sort of meritocracy based system like this, there always a risk those who no longer can work at a young age, who have not worked much in their life, or who can never work at all to be treated solely as a burden. How do we make sure shit gets done while also valuing people who may not be able to do most or any of it? He does mention ways of making work more accessible, but I would like to read a more expanded take on how disability would fit into things and how to quantify that fairly if the focus is on the autonomy of workers and consumers. I also think he could have gone a bit harder on how much less we would need to consume to have a just and environmentally safer society. He discusses reductions in consumption, but also seems to have the goal of making sure a participatory economy allows for higher consumption than may be necessary (for survival but also enjoyment.) Hopefully, though, a participatory economy or something similar would result in neither the extreme of hyper consumption and overproduction of capitalism nor the constant desire for anything outside of what authoritarian communism provides.
I don't have the solutions, mind you. It just made me think a lot, which is what this book is supposed to do. This seems like the kind of book that any leftist should read and any non-leftist willing to open their mind even a little should definitely read. With Hahnel's willingness to seriously consider arguments and data in all directions, it creates a great place for one to discover what they believe.
This was also posted to my goodreads.
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