Equal Shares Making Market Socialism Work
Equal Shares Making Market Socialism Work by John E. Roemer, published by Verso in 1996, explores the viability of socialism in contemporary society. This 289-page work engages with the skepticism surrounding socialist ideas, particularly in light of historical events that have shaped political discourse. Roemer introduces his concept of “coupon socialism,” which proposes a system where all citizens receive equal coupons to purchase ownership rights in companies, aiming to merge market dynamics with a commitment to equality.
Readers will find a diverse range of perspectives in this collection, as contributors examine the implications of Roemer’s model and its potential to address the challenges faced by socialism today. The discussions delve into various subjects, including economics, political ideologies, and the theory behind market socialism. While not all contributors fully endorse Roemer’s approach, they collectively engage with the notion of creating a “real utopia,” making this book a thought-provoking resource for those interested in the intersection of economics and political theory.
Official synopsis Publisher
“Nice idea, but it doesn’t work in practice.” How often have socialists had this claim thrown back at them? And now, after the events of 1989, many of the Left are openly wondering what a defensible idea of socialism would be. This work addresses this question, taking as its point of departure John Roemer’s model of “coupon socialism”. Roemer’s model aims to combine the market with a commitment to equality through a simple, yet starkly radical, proposal: all citizens would receive an equal number of coupons with which to buy ownership rights (voting, dividends) in companies. These coupons would constitute a second, separate form of currency, but could not be exchanged for ordinary money, nor transferred to other people. Not all the contributors to this collection endorse Roemer’s working model of market socialism, but they are all stimulated by his foray into a “real utopia”.
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