Lindblom - The Market System - Afghan Journalists' Committee

Alternative to the Market System? 277defects are, perhaps, more disputable than the one generaland underlying claim.The general claim does not say that the market systemis enough—far from it. Nor is it an endorsement of any existingmarket system, grossly deficient as they all are. It isonly a claim that, among other institutions and social processes,some form of market system for some sphere of humaninteraction is of great value. It of course has to be supplementedby other forms of social coordination such asstate, family, corporation, and the interactions of civil society,to which it must often give way.The market system is consequential for all dimensionsof our lives. It accomplishes what our forefathers wouldhave considered to be an astonishing cooperation engagingthe whole society, national and global. It helps keep peacein society. On the other hand, its rule of quid pro quo challengesthe very notion of society. No, I am not smugglinginto this paragraph a summary of the book, I am only soundingan earlier note. Think society, not economy. The marketsystem can be understood only as a great and all-pervasivepart of the structure and life of society.What kind of society do you want?