Advances and Debts

No one is satisfied with the state of our economy. Two of its major, "built-in" flaws—the producer's monopoly in the face of general scarcity, and the enterprises' lack of interest in scientific-technological progress—are probably obvious to everyone. But I am certain that there are no sages today at the top or the bottom who would venture to say that they have a thoroughly sound—and practical, not theoretical—prescription for getting rid of these defects. We have many more questions than answers. And we must still talk, debate, propose, and reject a great deal before we all feel our way to the answers we so urgently need.