Book Reviews

Utopian ideals of communist, socialist, or even individualistic, free market societies have inspired humankind for centuries. Against the notions of "the end of ideology" or "the end of history" this article argues for the legitimacy of utopian discourse, but not by promoting a specific utopian plan. It is shown that even "anti-utopians" such as Marx and Hayek end up promoting a utopia of their own. Instead of rejecting utopianism, what is required is a meta-utopian discourse in which the idea of a perfect society is rejected but the potential and limitations of different kinds of utopias can be measured. Key parameters are outlined via a critical consideration of the writings of Hayek, Malthus, Marx, and Veblen. The idea of evotopia is established to accommodate the elements of novelty and variety which are missing in much utopian thinking.     

J. S. Mill on Wages and Women: A Feminist Critique

"J. S. Mill on Wages and Women" questions the common belief that Mill, despite his feminism, never suggested an end to the sexual division of labor because of his devotion to the concept of efficiency and other tenets of classical economics. A review of Mill's analysis of a competitive labor market indicates that he believed it to be fully consistent with women's equality in the workforce. In fact, in his works on women, it becomes clear that Mill was concerned that the logical extension of classical economic principles might lead to the commodification of domestic duties, including child rearing, a notion he evidently feared. Therefore, it was Mill's fear of, rather than dedication to, extreme allegiance to efficiency and unimpeded capitalism that limited his feminism.     

Producer co-operatives in nineteenth-century British economic thought

Drawing on the popular radicalism of the day and his own development of the theory of the stationary state, John Stuart Mill had argued on normative and positive grounds that capitalist firms were transitional institutions and should/would evolve into producer co-operatives. In Britain, Mill's work set off a dialogue among mainstream economists. Contributors included Thornton, Fawcett, and Cairnes from Mill's “school,” as well as Jevons and Marshall who while sympathetic endorsed the less radical reform of profit sharing. Ironically, much of the socialist left, including Beatrice Potter (Webb), praised Mill's concerns, but rejected producer co-operatives in favour of nationalisation. By the early twentieth century, Mill's message resonated only with the guild socialists who kept the radical argument for producer co-operatives alive. The subtext of the paper is that modern liberals have too conveniently lost connection with this important history and its radical/liberal message of capitalism as a transitional mode.     

新疆南疆少数民族地区新农村建设的调查分析——以新疆和田地区墨玉县为例

全面建设社会主义新农村,是党中央重视加强“三农”工作的又一重大举措,也是各级党委政府工作的重点。新疆的南疆少数民族地区,经济发展水平相对较低,思想观念和科学文化水平相对落后,贫困发生率高,这些情况都决定了南疆少数民族地区的新农村建设不同于其它地区。本文以和田地区墨玉县为例,根据该县的实际情况,提出相应的对策。     

John Stuart Mill's Theories of Wealth and Income Distribution

Although he was much influenced by David Ricardo when he wrote the classical part of his Principles , John Stuart Mill was not a Ricardian when he penned his theories of wealth and distribution. They are based on a triple foundation. First, a belief that economics is a moral discipline. Second a theory of custom-driven human behavior. Third, an empirically formed conviction that the institutions of state, education and business cooperate to structure the distribution of income. On the basis of these presuppositions, Mill formulated 1) an institutional theory of the formation of human and non-human wealth and 2) an even more institutional theory of distribution demonstrating how the aforementioned institutions malignantly skew the distribution of income to the advantage of the propertied classes and to the extreme disadvantage of the working class. As a social economist, Mill recommended institutional reforms designed to eradicate the poverty of the working class.     

城市化进程中的少数民族地区失地农牧民就业问题浅析

随着社会经济的发展,城市化成为各个国家和地区实现现代化的必由之路。随着城市化进程的加快,必然导致越来越多的农民、尤其少数民族地区农牧民失去他们赖以生存的土地,其就业问题也逐渐成为一个新的社会问题,这不仅严重影响了民族地区的经济发展和社会稳定,而且阻碍了中国社会主义和谐社会的构建。     

Trade Gains when the Opportunity to Trade Changes the State of Information

J. S. Mill suggested that the destruction of old preferences and their replacement by new are among the greatest benefits imparted by free trade. However, Mill's argument relied on a possibly controversial ethical judgment. The present note approaches the question posed by Mill with only the conventional Paretian ethical baggage, and shows that, if all agents are rational in a sense to be made clear and if the wellbeing of each agent is independent of irrelevant alternatives, then trade is potentially gainful.     

Mill’s radical end of laissez-faire: A review essay of the political economy of progress: John Stuart Mill and modern radicalism

Can John Stuart Mill’s radicalism achieve liberal egalitarian ends? Joseph Persky’s The Political Economy of Progress is a provocative and compelling discussion of Mill’s economic thought. It is also a defense of radical political economy. Providing valuable historical context, Persky traces Mill’s intellectual journey as an outspoken proponent of laissez-faire to a cautious supporter of co-operative socialism. I propose two problems with Persky’s optimistic take on radical social reform. First, demands for substantive equality have led past radicals to endorse exclusionary nationalist and eugenics policies. It pushes some contemporary radicals towards illiberal interventions into intimate social life. Second, the radical critique of capitalism relies on an account of profit that neglects the epistemic function of private-property markets. Once this is acknowledged, capitalism retains some progressive credentials against radical alternatives.     

Is social justice for or against liberty? The philosophical foundations of Mill and Hayek’s theory of liberty

By comparing the philosophical foundations of Mill and Hayek’s theory of liberty, this paper shows that some similarities in the economic theories of Mill and Hayek are actually based on different rationales. It follows that any attempt to find a common thread in Mill and Hayek to provide reasonable guidance for social policy can be promising only if we can find the common ground from their social philosophy. While analyzing the rationales behind their opinions regarding the role of government and taxation policies, this paper will focus on exploring the role of two philosophical ideas, liberty, and justice. This will clarify the relationship between social justice and liberty as well as their status in relation to the ultimate principle of rules in the philosophy of Mill and Hayek. This paper will offer an explanation why, in Mill’s utilitarian philosophy, the pursuit of social justice aligns with the real freedom of everyone, but in Hayek’s philosophy, it is a hindrance.     

The future of the working classes: a comparison between J.S. Mill and A. Marshall

Abstract

Both J. S. Mill and A. Marshall had a lifelong interest in the living conditions of the working classes and theorized the possibility of a new age, characterized by a widespread mental and moral cultivation. This paper compares the precise arguments put forward by them in the period ranging from Mill's to Marshall's Principles, against the background of the evidence of social and human progress at their times. It is argued that, at different stages and with different specific arguments, their predictions relied on self-reinforcing mechanisms, in which a better life was the cause, no less than the effect, of progress. In order to make similarities and differences more transparent from a logical point of view, two simple mathematical formulations are proposed.     

John Stuart Mill on wage inequalities between men and women

Abstract

Mill proposes an analysis of women’s low wages in a paragraph of Principles of Political Economy. The paper’s purpose is to confront this analysis with his conception of justice, rooted in his utilitarianism. Mill’s attachment to justice arises in a particular context, as the result of various intellectual influences. On the one hand, it underlies his concern for the situation of women on the labour market and his insistence on the role played by custom and laws in wage differences between men and women. On the other hand, the shortcomings of Mill’s analysis appear consistent with his vision of equal justice and freedom for women.     

社会主义经济理论中的几个是非界限探讨

“非公有制经济是社会主义市场经济的重要组成部分”,不等于非公有制经济是“社会主义经济”的重要组成部分。“社会主义初级阶段的基本经济制度”与“社会主义经济制度”是既相联系又有区别的概念。有中国物色的社会主义经济与社会主义经 也不是完全和绝对地等同,社会主义经济制度的基础是社会主义公有制。私有制不是其基础。     

The Spitalfields Acts and the classics: Ricardo,J.S. Mill,Bowring, and Senior on the London silk industry (1823 to 1841)

Abstract

Passed in 1773, the Spitalfields Acts were the main regulation of the London silk industry. Classical political economy has generally been depicted as one of the main causes of their repeal, occuring in 1824. Recasting the successive interventions of Ricardo, Mill, Bowring and Senior in their respective political context, we show how they exhibit a shift in the discussions, from commercial to industrial issues. After Ricardo and Mill stressed the need to free the trade, Bowring pointed out the superior quality of French products. Senior relied on his work to emphasise the question of copyrights, which dominated his 1841 accounts.     

改革是社会主义社会发展的直接动力吗

本文不同意学术界流行的改革是社会主义社会发展的直接动力的观点,并针对此观点的理论和逻辑缺陷,着重从四个方面进行了分析:第一,没有摆脱阶级斗争是阶级社会的直接动力的思维惯性;第二,远离了社会主义社会主要矛盾的内在需要;第三,把根本动力与直接动力混淆了,没有严格区分开来;第四,片面地理解了邓小平的话和党的文件,产生了误解。之后,提出科学技术是我国社会主义社会发展的直接动力的观点,又进行了分析说明。     

中国社会主义市场经济发展的六个阶段

本文系统考察了中国社会主义市场经济发展的过程,提出社会主义市场经济在中国相继经历了萌芽、受挫、恢复探索、理论形成、初步建立、完善成熟等六个发展阶段,特别是提出中国共产党在1956年完成三大改造之后就开始了这一探索过程,毛泽东等第一代领导集体对社会主义市场经济探索所取得的成果是中国社会主义市场经济的萌芽阶段,是邓小平市场经济理论的源头和起点.     

建设有中国特色的社会主义文化

建设有中国特色的社会主义文化是建设有中国特色的社会主义的重要组成部分,本文提出进行这项伟大的社会实践,必须对三个方面的问题有一个正确的认识,即正确认识与有中国特色社会主义的文化相联系的几个关系问题,正确认识有中国特色的社会主义文化是综合国力的重要标志,正确认识有中国特色的社会主义文化的地位与作用     

儒家文化精华在当代文化建设中的价值

儒家文化是中国传统文化的核心,取其精华将其运用到社会主义先进文化建设中去,有利于提高公民道德修养,促进社会全面进步和人的全面发展,推动社会主义文化大发展大繁荣,提升我国综合国力和国际竞争力。     

Institutional Dynamics on the U.S. Court of Appeals: Minority Representation Under Panel Decision Making

This article assesses how the institutional context of decisionmaking on three-judge panels of the federal Court of Appealsaffects the impact that gender and race have on judicial decisions.Our central question is whether and how racial minority andwomen judges influence legal policy on issues thought to beof particular concern to women and minorities when serving onappellate panels which decide cases by majority rule. Properanalysis of this question requires investigating whether womenand minority judges influence the decisions of other panel members.We find that the norm of unanimity on panels grants women influenceover outcomes even when they are outnumbered on a panel.