Economic Justice [Hardcover]

James A. Yunker (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0847684768 | ISBN-13: 978-0847684762 | Publication Date: March 1997

This volume thoroughly examines the case for democratic market socialism in light of both the real-world and intellectual history of socialism. James Yunker provides a clear and jargon-free account of this highly controversial issue. Covering the history of the market socialist idea from the precursors of Oskar Lange to the present, Yunker examines the subject not only in terms of formal economic theory, but in the context of the actual history of communistic socialism as practiced in the U.S.S.R., Eastern Europe, the P.R.C., and elsewhere. The book's historical content and readability will make it of great interest not only to economists and historians of socialism, but to any reader seeking to learn more about the place of market socialism in history and its potential for future application.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Yunker's ideas are worthy of serious consideration. His rebuttals of anti-socialist arguments are well-developed and should serve to fertilize current debates on the relative strengths of markets and government. (Review Of Social Economy )

This book provides a thorough examination of the case for democratic market socialism in the light of history and the intellectual history of socialism. The author covers the history of the market socialist idea from the precursorsof Oskar Lange to the present day, not only in terms of ofrmal economic theory, but also in terms of the history of communistic socialism as practised in the USSR, the People's Republic of China and elsewhere. (International Review Of Administrative Sciences )

About the Author

James A. Yunker is professor of economics at Western Illinois University.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers (March 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0847684768
• ISBN-13: 978-0847684762
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars scrupulous, tempered and enlightening, March 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Economic Justice (Paperback)

This book is already unjustly neglected, just 2 years after its publication. Yunker's case for "profit-oriented market socialism" is, if not completely convincing, definitely an eye-opener. His awareness of the issues is highly admirable, including even a brief discussion of the nature of socialist and capitalist rhetoric, and praiseworthy in his insistence on not following in the footsteps of previous socialists who have occasionally been too idealistic and optimistic, too inflamed in their rhetoric, too self-assured of their utopian visions. In fact, much of Yunker's criticism is aimed at the excesses of past advocates for socialism.

Not that he's easy on what he calls "capitalist apologists," though. His attempts to take seriously their objections and dismantle them in a systematic, orderly fashion are commendable and thought-provoking -- he avoids strawmen like the plague. His rare lapses into invective are forgiveable, too, especially since Yunker's "invective" is exceedingly mild.

Yunker's proposal is repeatedly stressed as tentative; he insists that he thinks (democratic) market socialism would work, but says that it's impossible to say without firm empirical evidence, i.e. an economy actually employing some form of market socialism. He discusses the U.S.S.R. and China as two major examples of socialism, even giving 12 points for why the U.S.S.R. fell _besides_ its socialist economy (one of them being, of course, its complete lack of democracy).

It's unfortunate that Yunker's thoroughly sensible, responsible advocacy for market socialism has been largely ignored for 20+ years, but no surprise: from what I gather reading this book, he simply has too much faith in the intelligence of his readers. Normally one would admire someone for this, and I certainly do, but the fact is that as long as people are more easily moved by poorly though-out rhetoric, superficially impressive arguments, and all the rest of it -- as long as all these things are predominant, a book like Yunker's just won't convince the masses. A shame.