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Command Economy v. Communism
| command economy is a type of socialist economic system where how much to produce and what to produce is directed by the government. Communism is a society that emerges from socialism where work is not mandatory and money doesn't exist as everyone gets what he/she wants.
| Communism is a term which on one side describes an (some say "utopic") society ideal/status/level and on the other side political movements that want, or at least pretend, to achieve this ideal/status/level. Communists are against "free" markets, since it not just includes but heavily depends on the "freedom" of the rich to exploit and rule the poor, creating a increasing power-gap between this groups (classes).
| The alternative to "free" market is central plan economy, where production does not depend on "free" supply and demand, but on planning by a central authority.
This also had some problems, because of inflexibility, bureaucracy and concentration of power.
| >>196374
Keynesianism was an approach to make free market more social and attractive for the masses facing the competition with the soviet union about providing the better system. Before the brokedown of the USSR and with the 2nd world war in mind, western economists and politician were not so confident/convinced about free market like in these days, where it is some kind of religion and critics on it is seen as blasphemy.
| I think currently there only exist three usual (estate) plan economys: north-Korea, cuba, belarus.
On the other hand huge (often multinational) companys also gain more and more characteristics of central-planning authorities, except they are non-public, private institutions. Communists intentionally want a base democratic government/councils as planning instance, which never worked/happned in a long term, so far.
| >>196398 both North Korea and Cuba allow black "free" market to exist so I wouldn't call them pure command economy. And Belarus is pure free market where only major (vital) industries are owned by the government.
| >>196410
There is a difference between "allow" and "tolerate" sth. And Belarus may not be a 100% command economy but it clearly is not pure free market either. Because in a free market government does not own any industries.
Free market ideologists are also lobbing to privatize health, water and even police and military. Also modern Internet/Software companies are going to restrict freedom of speech due to monetisation of information e.g. by licensing ideas.
| Interesting, thanks for breaking it down. So does this mean that Belarus is an IRL Ancapistan?
| >>197103
No, it isn't. One does not simply overcome capitalism in one country. On the long term it will be assimilate to the capitalist world or become more autocratic, paranoid and isolated.
They did economically pretty fine and had a much less militarized and agressive foreign policy compared to other ex-soviet countries. But they lack of democracy and civil rights, which will be a problem when things suddenly stop working fine and change is neccesarry.
| >>197201
not only "light" (qulitative) but also "tiny" (quantitative). But yeah, there are simmiliarities.
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| Please explain the differences, and what each is. Your own words please.