A proposal for a democratic market economy

A type of market socialism is proposed for the United States both as a means of attaining more social equality than private ownership of corporate business makes politically and economically feasible, and of advancing a whole range of liberal purposes by undermining direct and indirect political power of the conservative business community. It is proposed to transfer ownership of corporate business to a system of local-government investment funds under specified national regulation. Such a system could retain all the economic advantages of capitalism, while facilitating better control of inflation, and would have genuine political feasibility in the United States.     

"Population policy in developed countries."

Bernard Berelson's book, "Population Policy in Developed Countries," provides a report on population policy in the developed world as of the early 1970s, covering countries with 20 million population or over, and 11 countries of special interest. There are chapters by national experts from 25 countries. A developed country is defined as industrialized, healthier, better educated, better off, more modernized, and distinguished by low fertility. This does not mean that population growth in these countries has yet fallen to zero or lower, but in 7 or 8 countries, population is expected to stabilize in a decade or so unless recent fertility trends reverse themselves or are offset by immigration. The conclusions drawn from the 25 country reports are summarized, and highlights of the demographic situation and policies in 12 of the countries are presented, Berelson is cautious in predicting the future shape of population policy in the developed world. There have been too many policy changes in the past to be confident of the future. He feels, however, that more and more people are likely to accept the goal of replacement, up to replacement in some countries and down to replacement in others.     

The strengths and weaknesses of the picketing law

In 1972, three national strikes received a wide coverage on television, radio and in the press. They were the miners' dispute, followed by the docks' industry dispute, and finally the national building industry strike. While much attention was directed to the respective claims which were lodged, a further aspect arising out of those strikes provoked a great deal of controversy. This related to the unlawful behaviour of a number of pickets who had taken up their stances outside various industrial establishments. It appears that at some locations, clashes had taken place between police and pickets, resulting in the arrest and charging of a substantial number of workmen. Figures show that at least 263 pickets were arrested in England and Wales during the course of the miners' strike.