Lindblom - The Market System - Afghan Journalists' Committee

6Maximum ReachWhat is the maximum domain, scope, or reach of the marketsystem? At this maximum, which of a society’s tasks orprocesses can be coordinated by the market system? In recenttimes, proposals have abounded to organize throughthe market system various activities earlier assumed to bebeyond market scope—the operation of prisons is an example.Whether it makes sense to try to expand or constrictthe market system depends on an understanding of what itcan and cannot do. Can it, for example, organize collectiveefforts or only individual efforts?Clearly it is possible to coordinate the disposal of orphanedinfants by permitting market transactions likethose for heifers. But many societies choose not to do so—choose not to push the market system to its fullest use.Thus we distinguish between maximum market domainand chosen market domain. Let us explore its maximumdomain in this chapter, its chosen domain in the next.Those who live in a market system form a realisticrough estimate of its maximum domain, yet conflicting imagestrouble their estimates. On the one hand, they oftensee the market system as pervading all aspects of life.“Everything for sale,” as in a recent book title: votes, legislativefavors, love, loyalty, and, according to some fundraisingevangelists, divine intervention to bring health andwealth. On the other hand, they see the market system aslimited to one of several distinctive major segments of society,politics embracing another, church and religion an-