ABSTRACT
The logic of the proposed system naturally requires prices that balance supply and demand, that reflect cost and use-value. This does not exclude subsidies whenever these are considered to be socially desirable, or where external economies are significant (public transport, vitamins for nursing mothers, perhaps housing, etc.) and of course some items ought not to be ‘priced’ at all: education, hospitals, parks, and so on. Just what is to be available free of charge is a matter of democratic political decision. As already suggested, it is likely that a large majority would not wish (for instance) to be fed free, suspecting that this would mean that they will be unable to choose the menu.
