From: Ian Wright (ian_paul_wright@HOTMAIL.COM)
Date: Thu May 15 2003 - 17:41:05 EDT
Hello Jerry, >Putting aside the questions of simple commodity production and value, >have you thought about developing a computational model for a >socialist system? How would you go about specifying the characteristics >and constraints of such a computational model? I have thought about it. I read Paul and Allin's book and concluded that I could not personally contribute to the scientific work of exploring designs for new economies because I didn't have sufficient understanding of capitalism. That is a fact about me, not anyone else. I think exploration of the design-space of economic orgnisations is incredibly important, primarily because it matters to everyone. One advantage of computational modelling is that it employs formal languages to specify casual mechanisms. This means that if you formally specify a system, for example the relations of production in a hypothetical socialist system, then the (true) causal consequences of that system can be deduced by running your program. The exploration of the possible causal consequences of the model is automated. This is a great scientific advance compared to specifying a system in natural language and then trying to deduce its properties with pen, paper and sweat. It also has advantages over logical and mathematical modelling, but there is too much to say about this, and there are trade-offs. But I would never want to legislate about the correct methodology, because there's always more than one way to skin a cat, although different approaches have their advantages. For example, my work would be impossible without the previous work in Marxist economics, very little of which (none?) is computational. Specifying the characteristics and constraints of a computational model is no different from specifying them for any other type of model (natural language, mathematical or otherwise). However, the discipline of having to craft an artefact that actually runs in reality forces the modeller to be very precise about those characteristics and constraints. This feedback process between specification and implementation helps clarify ideas, reveal inadequacies etc. So in sum, if one were to explore economic designs, then the computer is an important tool, perhaps vital. For example, Paul and Allin have, I believe, implemented their harmony algorithm that balances i/o tables. I imagine this process was essential to them in order to check and refine their theoretical ideas. -Ian. _________________________________________________________________ Protect your PC - get McAfee.com VirusScan Online http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963
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