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Boris Brutzkus and the Socialist Calculation Debate

Author

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  • Pencho D. Penchev

    (University of National and World Economy, Sofia, Bulgaria)

Abstract

The paper discusses the contribution of the Russian economist Boris Brutzkus to the socialist calculation debate during the 1920s and 1930s. He was among the first economists to prove that the socialist economy could not be organized on a rational basis, because under common ownership of the means of production economic calculation is impossible. In his published theoretical works in Russian and in English Brutskus debunks some of the basic ideas of Marxism and in doing this he uses arguments that others (far more famous) critics of the socialist economic system (Ludwig von Mises and Friedrich Hayek) reached much later. Among the main contributions of Brutzkus are his views on the role of entrepreneurs in a market economy and the inability central authority to collect and process the huge amount of data required for allocation of production between different industries.

Suggested Citation

  • Pencho D. Penchev, 2014. "Boris Brutzkus and the Socialist Calculation Debate," Ikonomiceski i Sotsialni Alternativi, University of National and World Economy, Sofia, Bulgaria, issue 2, pages 111-128, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nwe:iisabg:y:2014:i:2:p:111-128
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Boris Brutzkus; socialism; economic calculation; theory;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • B30 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought: Individuals - - - General
    • P20 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist and Transition Economies - - - General
    • P26 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist and Transition Economies - - - Property Rights

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