Don Lavoie argues that the radical Left's enthusiasm for planning has been a tragic mistake and that progressive social change requires the abandonment of this traditional view. Lavoie argues that planning—whether Marxism, economic democracy, or industrial policy—can only disrupt social and economic coordination. He challenges both radicals and their critics to begin reformulating our whole notion of progressive economic change without reliance on central planning. National Economic Planning: What is Left? will challenge thinkers and policymakers of every political persuasion.

This title was first published in 1978. This volume brings together translations of a series of fundamental articles that are of special value for those who seek to understand ChinaTs system of economic planning. These materials, which were intended to provide a basic introduction to the principles and techniques of economic planning being introduced during the First Five-Year Plan, originally appeared in two series in the journal Chi-hua ching-chi (Economic Planning), the official organ of the State Planning Commission and the State Economic Commission.

This book discusses national development planning in the context of a globalized world economy. National economic development planning, the process of defining strategic economic objectives for a country and designing policies and institutional frameworks to attain them, was popular in many countries in the 1960s and 1970s. Over time it lost its appeal. More recently, with globalization accelerating and economic competition increasing, it is making a comeback in different countries under different forms. National planning in this new era is different than the earlier quantitative planning approaches. It employs different tools, such as strategic visions and action plans, revived forms of physical infrastructure planning, industrial policy, and cluster policy. Built on the research of international scholars with firsthand knowledge of the countries in question, this volume presents and evaluates current national planning strategies and policy worldwide. It will be of interest to both academicians who study and teach globalization and development as well as policy makers who may use it as a reference as they contemplate their own strategies.

Originally published in 1970. During the times of planned population movements and new towns, with a growing interest in specifically regional policies by government, this book considers the problems of development within regions. It presents research on the facts and trends of employment generated by the regional economy and its relationship with the size and socio-economic character of local workforce, using the example of the West Midlands as testing ground for policy. The authors come from the viewpoint of needing to develop understanding of population, housing, employment and communications – the way our regional economy and society worked, before organised de-centralisation could be planned appropriately. Within the field of economic planning they ask what analysis of the information available tell us about development possibilities within a region. The book looks at trends in employment growth, the character and distribution of manufacturing industries and service industries and the locational consequences, to build a picture of the regional economic system. It then considers supply and demand and measures the ways towns vary in detailed case studies.

Examining the innovations of economic policy in the UK, France and Germany in the 1960s, this book originally published in 1968, assesses the degree of success of these policies and draws conclusion for the oreintation of future policy. The book contrasts the long history of national planning in France with the equally long history of anti-p[lanning ideology in Germany and by close examination of the actual policies, brings out the relaities that lie behind the public attitudes. It discusses the problems which lead to planning interventions, followed by a chapter on the UK, France and Germany. It examines in details particular adaptations of policy: namely quantitative programming, monetary policy, fiscal policy, public expenditures, regional policy, prices and incomes policy and the balance of payments, comparing developments in all 3 countries. It also looks at the beginning of economic planning at the level of the EEC, with particular implications for British entry.