Showing papers on "Social ownership published in 1991"

Yugoslavia: the case of self-managing market socialism

Abstract: F or many years the Yugoslav economic system appeared to offer a middle way between capitalism and Soviet central planning. The Yugoslavs' brand of market socialism placed reliance on markets to guide both domestic and international production and exchange, with the socialist element coming from the "social ownership" and workers' self-management of enterprises. The system seemed successful until the late 1970s. However, in recent years, many of the problems besetting other socialist economies like Poland and Hungary-like stagnation, international debt, enterprise inefficiency and inflation-have emerged to bring the whole experiment into question. These failures raise wider questions about the compatibility of socialist ownership and control with the market mechanism. I conclude that, while Yugoslav market socialism has not been proven inherently unfeasible, it contained serious flaws concerning the organization of the firm and the operation of the capital market. Reforms paralleling those elsewhere in Central and Eastern Europe are now on the agenda, but the situation has been complicated by ethnic rivalries which bring into question the survival of the Yugoslav state. This paper will first describe how the Yugoslav economy has been distinguished from those of its socialist neighbors. The following sections will describe the economic record of Yugoslavia since the 1950s, and the lessons to be drawn from the long-standing Yugoslav experiment.

Ownership and efficiency

Abstract: This is an attempt to prove that social ownership should be approached in historical perspective, so that only in such a way its efficiency may be evaluated. Social ownership proved appropriate for initiating the industrialization of Yugoslavia, and to provide for its fast development until the mid-sixties. Such results have been achieved also due to the changes in state ownership in accordance with the requirements of development. The Utopian philosophy of so-called 'agreed' economy, which was dominant since the end of the sixties until the beginning of eighties, was but a lost time in the evolution of social ownership. Only by the end of the eighties the issue arose of transforming social ownership into state ownership, namely into the state, predominantly share holders capital - which in a market situation promised also greater efficiency. Ownership restructuring in Yugoslavia presupposes also the liberation from all prejudices toward the private sector, which in new condition acquires unlimited possibilities of development. However, the privatization of social ownership which is now on the agenda contains, according to the author, also ideological motifs. The author warns against a danger of ideological protection of any kind of ownership, since all forms in the market situation should seek their natural scopes.

Socialism Today?: The Changing Meaning of Socialism

Abstract: Preface - Notes on the Contributors - Socialism: Theory and Practice O.Sik - Social Ownership B.Horvat - Dogmata and Life G.S.Lisichkin - Socialism: the Very Concept under Scrutiny W.Brus - Two Remarks on Socialism and Reforms T.Bauer - Problems with the Definition of Socialism in Today's World L.Balcerovicz - Socialism: Why A.Nove - A Predictament of Systemic Change: Supply and Demand Pricing K.Kouba - Socialist Property: Contents and Forms of Realization R.N.Yevstigneyev - The Regulated Market: The Future of Socialism? J.Kovacs - A Present-Day Socio-Economic Notion of Socialism F.Levcik - Socialist Values and Economic Systems J.Kosta - Some Remarks on Socialism: Synopsis of the Discussion on the Occasion of the St Gall Research Talks of September 28-30 1989 O.Sik & K-F.Raible - Appendix: Problems of Reforming a Socialist Economy O.Sik - Index

Ownership and participation

Abstract: Part 1 Evaluation and review of the field: trends in employee participation and new technology, Peter Cressey worker take-overs of failing and bankrupt enterprises in Europe, Rob Paton the effects of worker participation, employee ownership and profit-sharing on economic performances - a partial review, Derek C.Jones and Jeffrey Pliskin federal structure and the viability of labour-managed firms in mixed economies, Frederick Leete-Guy. Part 2 Landmarks revisited: learning from Mondragon, William Foote Whyte the Plywood co-operatives - some disturbing findings, Leon Grunberg democracy, integration and commercial survivals - the Webbs on associations of producers, Tom Clarke. Part 3 Recent theoretical developments: property - the growth and change of an institution, Eugen Pusic property, ownership and participation - on the growing contradictions between legal and psychological concepts, Bernard Wilpert social ownership, Branko Horvat ownership, participation and work restructuring in the kibbutz - a comparative perspective, Menachem Rosner sharing ownership in the services, Raymond Russell. Part 4 Recent research findings: participation and corporate performance in ESOP firms, Terry J.Hanford and Patrick G.Grasso an appraisal of French research on direct worker participation, Janine Goetschy inequality in a company of equals - participation and control in large law firms, Pamela S.Tolbert and Robert N.Stern participation and competence - a necessary relationship, Frank Heller. Part 5 Country studies: worker participation in Histadrut-owned enterprises in Israel, Michael Palgi worker participation in the Soviet Union - new possibilities, Murray Yanowitch employee-owned companies in the Nordic countries, Lars Lindkvist and Ann Westenholz.