A free, decentralized, information-age economy

Robert J. Samuelson writes a really fascinating article in today's Washington Post that should be interesting reading for anyone concerned with the shape of the emerging market economy.

Capitalism's Next Stage

It's really captivating piece on business scholar Alfred Chandler and his observations about the development of capitalism in the 20th century.

We referenced a really excellent economic history text when I was studying economic history in undergrad by Robert Heilbroner and Aaron Singer titled The Economic Transformation of America that I highly recommend (I don't share Heilbroner's socialist commitments, but I do appreciate his review of 19th century economic history from the perspective of someone committed to wealth equity in an era of enormous wealth inequities and fierce economic and political conflict;
Heilbroner has, sadly, since died and I look forward to reading his widely read Worldly Philosophers when I get a chance).

I have an I.E.P. to finish, but I did think it important to note that, dovetailing Chandler's observation at the end of Samuelson's article, the next stage is a much freer, more decentralized, more information-based economy. The internet, more than any other technology or medium I have ever studied or witnessed, has freed up the economy immensely, to the dismay of many who wish that it did not provide as many opportunities as it does to circumvent many of the legal, political, and cultural limitations of the past and even the present era.

It is the freest, most decentralized economy that I have ever studied that we are experiencing currently. And the information base that it revolves around makes a strongly educated citizenry and peoples both more readily available and education a more useful element of a prosperous and productive life, to speak nothing of a well-lived life.

Such decentralization will make ideological demarcations increasingly less useful as a much more intelligently-engaged citizenry make more independent judgments about political, economic, cultural, and other affairs. And the internet is the primary vehicle for engagement that will drive political and economic decisions in increasingly complex and uncertain patterns.

The internet has potential to free up engagement and make for a much more honest, open line of communication about important political, economic, and cultural matters. It is potential that people will increasingly use for those purposes, but which, like most technology, they will likely use as much if not more for entertainment and more passive purposes. Ce la vie. But the potential for a more intelligent, engaged, and committed citizenry to take a more active role in discussing, engaging, tackling, and working to resolve important issues in more decentralized ways, especially in a more decentralized non-profit as well as for-profit economy is one of the most promising opportunities of the early 21st century.

The internet provides one of the most remarkable opportunities for citizens to bypass traditional political parties and institutions to tackle important problems of their own accord without government oversight (not necessarily, that is, depending on how politicians and citizens approach this issue; though, thusfar, the direction is definitely toward a decentralized, hands-off approach to the internet). Non-profit and for-profit enterprises, like schools, are important institutions as well, but the advantage of the internet is a much freer, less regulated means of tackling important problems outside of traditional institutions or the economy.

Having a place where people can communicate ideas with fewer of the restrictions of more traditional institutions is an enormous advantage that the internet offers citizens and neighbors and interested groups that traditional institutions need to and will incorporate over time.

It is one of the more unambiguously progressive and positive developments of the 21st century. And its progressive role is completely independent of party or ideology or political group, while much more true to liberal democratic ideals, offering plenty of room for all groups to participate in discussions, debates, engagement, sharing and economy that are the heart of its progressive offering.

I've got work to do, and will try to write more later.

Love,
Ben