Suchergebnisse

The purpose of this study is to throw light on the past economic performance of six members of Comecon — Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland and Romania — and to assess their prospects for the future. Economic problems of Eastern Europe must be placed in a broad historical perspective containing crucial ideological, political, strategic and technological factors affecting economic functions and processes. Interaction of these factors is expressed within the framework of modernization, the forces of which exert a powerful influence on economic activities.

Abstract. Scarcity lies at the heart of economic science. Scarcity and abundance are dialectical terms Rowing into each other by imperceptible degrees. They are always relative. While absolute abundance in terms of both internal and external factors is an unattainable dream, life would be extinguished long before absolute scarcity is reached. At any point in time, people can be placed between these two extremes. Such a position of relative scarcity can be either close to the subsistence level or to relative plenty at a high standard of living. Economists of a pessimistic breed fear that pressure of population on subsistence will lead to equilibrium at a subsistence level or even to eventual extinction unless the rate of population growth and resource use are checked. Optimists believe that technological advance will continue to provide an offset to diminishing returns and that human institutions will respond to pressures of scarcities in constructive ways. Some implications of these attitudes for economic development are analyzed within a framework of the theory of discontent.

Abstract. The concept of equilibrium plays a pivotal role in the neoclassical maximization theory. Equilibrium, or balance of forces, is an ethically neutral term, while optimum is a position considered by the decision‐maker as the most desirable, according to some predetermined criteria of optimality. Disequilibrium can be defined as a divergence between the actual and the desired performance. Within this context, the optimum position is attained when the ideal and actual values of the crucial variables measuring performance coincide. Disequilibrium analysis can be expressed in terms of the theory of discontent. Socio‐economic change caused by human decisions and actions is always rooted in discontent, which leads to determination to act. This determination, or will, is one necessary condition for change. The other necessary condition is the use of power to close the discontent gap. The coincidence of power to act and will to use it is a sufficient condition for change. To what extent a new equilibrium balancing aspirations and attainments is established depends on the relationship between the rate of change in the level of aspiration and the rate of change in the level of attainment. The theory of discontent has a much broader application to economics which is elaborated.