20-04-2019: The mission of the trade union movement
Author: E.A. Bakkum
Since more than a century the trade union movement is an institutional factor in the functioning of the labour market. She is a cartel of workers. The present column analyzes the capability of the movement to influence the labour market. First, the expectations of the founders of the trade union movement are discussed (here personified in Jan Oudegeest). Next the true social position of the movement is studied, first after half a century (in the late sixties), and subsequently after another half of a century (at present). Finally a subjective perspective of the trade union movement is sketched briefly .... Read more
22-03-2019: Economic planning by the state
Author: E.A. Bakkum
On this webportal many models of state intervention in the economy have been described. The present column consults the work of Jan Tinbergen in order to show that state intervention is often inevitable. The state formulates policy goals in order to optimize the welfare of its citizens. A plan is designed for the realization of these goals with the available policy instruments. The planning makes an intensive use of models. The convergence theory of Tinbergen is also discusses, as well as the comments of the economist Hans van den Doel (mainly known from Nieuw Links) .... Read more
10-03-2019: Annotations regarding the public branch-corporations
Author: E.A. Bakkum
This column complements a previous discussion about the public branch-corporations (publiekrechtelijk bedrijfsorgaan, in short PBO) with many annotations, They show that the input of individuals influences the political developments. Among the leaders are J. Veraart, D.U. Stikker, E. Kupers, W. Drees and H. Vos. The position of the trade unions during the German occupation in 1940-1945 is discussed extensively. During this period the Foundation of Labour (Stichting van de Arbeid) is formed. There is also an analysis of the ideas of the social-democracy and the roman-catholics immediately after the liberation. Finally, the opinions of present-day politicians with regard to the PBO are summarized .... Read more
01-03-2019: The efficiency of the planned economy
Author: E.A. bakkum
This column studies the efficiency of the planned economy by means of three books: Plan, Interessen and Aktivität der Werktätigen by R.A. Belousov, Plan - Markt - Demokratie by K. Steinitz and D. Walter, and Von Marx zu Markt by W. Brus and K. Laski. The Leninist arguments in favour of central planning (also called command economy) are once more discussed. Next a sketch is presented of the real situation in the Soviet Union, the GDR and Hungary. The failure of these states is explained by means of the principal-agement problem. Finally, some proposals are made for a socialism with a market economy .... Read more
18-02-2019: Monopolistic competition and oligopoly
Author: E.A. Bakkum
It is often assumed, that markets are ruled by perfect competition. However, in practice the monopolistic competition and the oligopoly are much more common. The present column describes the possibilities for the entrepreneurs in monopolistic competition to differentiate their products. This type of market is the polypoly. The requirement of a maximal profit allows to derive the best-reaction function. The various variants of the oligopoly are also studied, namely the types of Cournot, von Stackelberg and Bertrand. The entrepreneurs can control the price or the quantity, and choose the behaviour of a satellite or initiator .... Read more