IDA@Historical Materialism (London)

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On the 8th of November, we will present our concept of “firm-based planning” at this year’s Historical Materialism Conference in London.

Our panel, along with others, has been organized by INDEP, the International Network for Democratic Economic Planning.

https://www.indep.network/indep-organising-panels-at-21st-historical-materialism-conference/

 

Presentation abstract:

Firm Based Planning in the Socialist Economy

The GIC (Group of International Economists) has developed a decentralised planning system based
on labor-time accounting that consistently abolishes money, market and value. This decentralisation is
specific in that there is no central plan or formal hierarchy of plans required. Instead, worker-led
companies file plans and organise their economic activities through self-management. They calculate
the labor time content of their products, simply by adding inputs and their own labor. The resulting
“prices” are published along with their plans, hence there is no intrinsic need for central calculation of
the labor time content of products or distribution via Input-Output Tables.

Decentralisation of the planning process does not necessarily imply economic fragmentation. Branch
organisations of companies may encompass significant portions of the economy. In general,
companies, as envisioned by GIC, play a crucial role in a communist society’s (re-)production
process. Most importantly, they do not own their means of production; they only manage them on
behalf of society. Moreover, each plan constitutes a promise to society. To which degree a promise
has been fulfilled can be observed through the transactions of labor time flowing to and from a
company. Associated producers will need to agree on institutions and frameworks for exercising plan
control: labor time accounts for companies, issuance of work certificates for consumer products, and
mandatory, equitable rules for plan approval. This enables society to manage the flow of products and
services autonomously and consciously.

Politically and strategically, this system could serve as a basis for a communist economic vision that
has been lacking in the left for decades. It necessitates the fight for socialization, workers’ councils,
and cooperatives. The appealing demand that each hour of work should count equally for all workers
is imperative within this system. Along with exploitation, this system abolishes the class structure of
society, its inequalities and hierarchies.