Participatory Economics

There's lots of existing economic systems - centrally planned economies, and globalized (and un-globalized!) capitalism (also overly centralized). A frequent and reasonable question is what's the alternative? What would an economy that is more participatory and consensual look like?

For one vision see Michael Albert's site: http://www.parecon.org/

His latest book, Parecon: Life After Capitalism BookSense:0896084051 - now available on-line http://www.zmag.org/books/pareconv/parefinal.htm - maybe an updated and expanded version of:

Looking Forward: Participatory Economics for the Twenty First Century, by Michael Albert and Robin Hahnel BookSense:0896084051 (paperback), BookSense:089608406X (hardcover)

I read this in a study group in the early 1990s. It lays a particular vision of an alternative economy,using the InterNet to annually match up what people want and what they intend to produce. Almost certainly not workable as is, but a valuable exploration. Haven't read the new book so i can't speak to where Albert's gone with it now, more than 10 years later. --JohnAbbe

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