Capitalism Vs. Socialism
opinion Essay
1817 words
Comparisons between countries and regions before and after the advent of capitalism in Eastern Europe, Russia and Central Europe as well as a comparison of Cuba and the ex-communist countries provide us with an adequate basis to draw some definitive conclusions. Fifteen years of "transition to capitalism" is more than adequate time to judge the performance and impact of capitalist politicians, privatizations, free market policies and other restoration measures on the economy, society and general welfare of the population.
Economic Performance: Growth, Employment and Poverty
Under communism the economic decisions and property were national and publicly owned. Over the past 15 years of the transition to capitalism almost all basic industries, energy, mining, communications, infrastructure and wholesale trade industries have been taken over by European and US multi-national corporations and by mafia billionaires or they have been shut down. This has led to massive unemployment and temporary employment, relative stagnation, vast out-migration and the de-capitalization of the economy via illegal transfers, money laundering and pillage of resources.
In Poland, the former Gdansk Shipyard, point of origin of the Solidarity Trade Union, is closed and now a museum piece. Over 20% of the labor force is officially unemployed (Financial Times, Feb. 21/22, 2004) and has been for the better part of the decade. Another 30% is "employed" in marginal, low paid jobs (prostitution, contraband, drugs, flea markets, street venders and the underground economy). In Bulgaria, Rumania, Latvia, and East Germany similar or worse conditions prevail: The average real per capita growth over the past 15 years is far below the preceding 15 years under co...
... middle of paper ...
...ane treatment facilities in the world for dealing with HIV. Free anti-viral drugs, humane cost-free treatment and well-organized, extensive public health programs and health education explains why Cuba has the lowest incidence of HIV in the developing world despite the presence of small-scale prostitution related to tourism and low incomes.
The debate over the superiority of socialism and capitalism continues because what has replaced socialism after the end of the USSR is far worse on every significant indictor. The debate continues because the achievements of Cuba far surpass those of the emerging capitalist countries and because in Latin America the emerging social movements have realized changes in self-government , in democratizing land ownership and natural resource control which are far superior to anything US imperialism and local capitalism has to offer.
In this essay, the author
- Argues that comparisons between countries and regions before and after the advent of capitalism in eastern europe, russia and central europe as well as a comparison of cuba and the ex-communist countries provide an adequate basis to draw definitive conclusions.
- Analyzes how the transition to capitalism has led to massive unemployment and temporary employment, relative stagnation, vast out-migration, and the de-capitalization of the economy.
- Opines that in poland, the former gdansk shipyard is closed and now a museum piece. in bulgaria, rumania, latvia, and east germany, living standards have fallen by 80%.
- Explains how russia's economy was taken over by billionaire oligarchs who shipped over $200 billion dollars out of the country. the transition to capitalism led to 15 million premature deaths.
- Opines that the worst consequences of western supported "transition" to capitalism are still to come over the next few years.
- Opines that the criminal gangs of russia, eastern europe, the balkans and baltic countries contribute to the aids epidemic. the violent albanian mafia controls a significant part of the heroin trade and trafficking in sex-slaves throughout western europe.
- Concludes that real existing capitalism is substantially worse than the full employment, moderate growth, welfare states that existed during the previous socialist period.
- Compares cuban socialism to the emerging capitalist countries of russia, easter europe, and south-central asia.
- Explains that cuba's "reformed socialism" has greatly surpassed the performance of the emerging capitalist countries of eastern europe and russia, not to mention central asia.
- Explains that the debate over the superiority of socialism and capitalism continues because the achievements of cuba surpass those of emerging capitalist countries.
Related
- analytical
- opinion
- explanatory
- Power and Prosperity by Mancur Olsonanalytical essayIn the book Power and Prosperity, by Mancur Olson, it talks about the economic and social progression toward a stronger democracy. Throughout the book, Olson explains the differences and flaws of communist and capitalist economies. During the Cold War socialism was not really looked upon as a solution, due to the fact that Soviet Russia, or the USSR, and the United States were battling to show the globe what system created the greatest achievements. So, after the United States came out victorious and showed capitalism’s capability to achieve, governments, people, and general economies started to transition to capitalism. He explains that the reason communism failed to win the Cold War was due to the fact that Soviet Russia was running on a concept of communism while running on a foundation of a market economy which lead to the eventual collapse of growth and failure of sustainability. Although Professor Olson points out that perpetual subsidies for enterprise and failing businesses diminish incentive to use new resources and strategies in order to stay proactive, he believes that a controlled economy would work if running on a completely consistent foundation.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how mancur olson's book power and prosperity explains the differences and flaws of communist and capitalist economies.
- Argues that anarchy, or capitalism, is a concept based on greed and power. olson believes that stalin's economic intent was the right one.
- Analyzes professor olson's argument that a capitalist system provides the most riches and highest standards of living.
- Argues that olson's views on government, anarchy, and the way a healthy economy should function are illogical and have flaws.
986 wordsRead More - The Marxist Theory: Marx's Theory Of Capitalismanalytical essayIn the basic relations and structures which distinguish capitalism from feudalism and socialism, however, it has changed very little, and these are the main features of capitalism addressed in Marx's theories. The workers' relations to their labour, products and capitalists are basically unchanged from Marx's day. Probably the greatest difference between our capitalism and Marx's has to do with the more direct involvement of the state in the capitalist economy and, as a consequence of this, the expanded role of ideology to disguise the increasingly obvious ties between the agencies of the state and the capitalist
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes marx's investigation of the multifaceted and developing relations between these two classes.
- Explains that marx's vision of socialism develops from his study of capitalism.
- Analyzes how marx's study of capitalism is stranded in a philosophy that is both argumentative and realist.
- Analyzes marx's theory of alienation. workers have no ownership rights over machinery, raw materials, and factories.
- Analyzes how marx's main examples of alienation are related to the life of workers, but other classes are also isolated.
- Explains marxist labour theory of value, which is concerned with why merchandise have costs of any kind. in slave society, the slave proprietor takes by force what his slaves produce, coming back to them just what he wishes.
- Analyzes how marx underlines the detachment of the labourer from the method for creation and the offer of his or her work control that this division makes important.
- Analyzes how marx's realist idea of history takes into account the change of feudal system into capitalism. he emphasizes the paradoxes that rose through the development of towns, population, innovation and trade.
- Analyzes how marx sees the state as a coliseum for class battle where class groups adapt for political point of interest in an unreasonable battle that finds the industrialists holding all the most intense weapons.
- Analyzes how capitalism has given rise to a belief, which handles individuals under the perplexity of replacing the present set-up with something better.
- Explains that capitalism has changed a lot in the hundred years since marx presented his philosophy. the workers' relations to their labour, products, and capitalists are basically unchanged from marx's day.
- Analyzes how marxism has been assaulted by a wide range of feedback, but the real one have been coordinated against cases that marx never made.
- Explains that marxism has had its primary impact among labourers and intelligent people in industrialist nations, especially in europe, who have utilized it as a noteworthy contraption in characterizing their issues.
1657 wordsRead More - How Did The Industrial Revolution Affect Great Britainanalytical essayTwo primary theories emerged -- socialism and capitalism. Socialism is a system that has the means of production, distribution, and exchange owned and regulated by the public and capitalism is a system that has a country’s trade and industry controlled by private owners for profit. Another theory similar to capitalism, laissez faire, is an economic system where transactions between companies are free from government taxes and subsidies. The test of time has not been kind to socialist ideals, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, or the Soviet Union, fell after the Cold War against the United States, a war where capitalism was put against socialism. On the other hand, the United States, where the free market prevails, has been the world’s richest country and home of the world’s largest economy (by nominal GDP) for over a century. These different economic and political ideals were layered on top of a country’s utilization of industry and dramatically affected the economic result of a country’s transition to
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the industrial revolution revolutionized the way of production and labor in great britain and the rest of the world.
- Analyzes how the high demand for workers led to lower wages across the board and the employment of children to replace more demanding and expensive adult workers.
- Explains that the industrial revolution had a positive impact around the world, but the environmental side was horrific. factories pumped tons of toxic gases into the atmosphere and their surrounding waters, darkening cities and killing off wildlife.
- Explains that as industrialization became more prominent around the world, different countries had different perspectives on how the factories would operate.
- Explains that the industrialization of great britain and the world has had dramatic effects politically, economically, socially, and environmentally. the revolution has sculpted and transformed human rights and changed the means of production.
768 wordsRead More - While capitalism is the most predominantly used economic system, many modern countries and/or states use a combination or blended version of capitalism. The United States uses capitalism and socialism. However, a huge threat to capitalism is communism. “Simply put, communism is the idea that everyone in a given society receives equal shares of the benefits derived from labor (Hoyt, 2008). For instance, instead of one or two people owning a company and controlling the production and profits, the workers and everyone in a communist country have an equal share in everything they produce. One potential negative with communism is no one can own their own business because the state owns everything (Hoyt, 2008).
In this essay, the author
- Explains that while capitalism is the most commonly used economic system, many modern countries and/or states use a combination or blended version of capitalism.
- Opines that the united states economy is best described as capitalist because of the huge division in social class that there is in america.
165 wordsRead More - Socialism and Capitalismexplanatory essayAlthough pure capitalism and pure socialism don’t exist in the real world, those two economic systems are on complete opposite sides of the spectrum. The basic philosophy of capitalism is that capital is owned, operated, and traded for generating profits for private owners or shareholders. There’s a particular emphasis put on individual profit rather than society as a whole; socialism is essentially the opposite. According to socialism, each person must contribute something to society according to their ability, and profit is distributed among the society or workforce to complement individual wages/salaries.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that capitalism and socialism are on opposite sides of the spectrum. capital is owned, operated, and traded for generating profits for private owners or shareholders.
- Explains that pure capitalism promotes a laissez-faire kind of free market, whereas socialism relies on the markets to determine investment, production, and distribution decisions.
- Explains the differences between socialist and capitalist economic systems, including their social and political effects.
- Explains that despite radical differences between the near-polar opposite economic systems, there are still a few aspects of each that they have in common.
- Explains that capitalism and socialism are opposing schools of thought in economics. socialists believe social and economic inequality is bad for society and that the government is responsible for reducing it.
641 wordsRead More - Similarities Between Capitalism And Capitalismanalytical essayWhich economic system is better for the populations, the basis, the infrastructure of our economy. Socialism and Capitalism are the battle between a sink or swim mentality or a group effort for the better good. Each side have the pros and cons as one gains profit and the other helps the nation as a whole. The choices are of those of the people at the end, if one wishes to gain a profit or in the morality of everyone being socially equal. This is based on the morals, its economic gain, and the economy losses.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that socialism and capitalism are the battle between a sink or swim mentality or group effort for the better good.
- Explains that capitalism revolves around the idea that an economic market should not be interfered with or neither impaired with.
- Explains that socialism focuses on the idea of labor and that labor moves the economy forward in the nation.
- Analyzes how socialism fails when the social programs can no longer meet the needs of the people. then the capitalists come into play as their system is flawed through competition.
- Explains that the world outlook of socialism and capitalism depends very well on the location of the nation and its current economic stands.
1172 wordsRead More - Forward To The Past - Feudalism And Communismanalytical essayThe core countries of Central Europe (the Czech Republic, Hungary and, to a lesser extent, Poland) experienced industrial capitalism in the inter-war period. But the countries comprising the vast expanses of the New Independent States, Russia and the Balkan had no real acquaintance with it. To them its zealous introduction is nothing but another ideological experiment and not a very rewarding one at that.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes sam vaknin's psychology, philosophy, economics and foreign affairs web sites. the core countries of central europe experienced industrial capitalism in the inter-war period, but the vast expanses of the new independent states, russia, and the balkan had no real acquaintance with it.
- Argues that there is no precedent to the extant fortean transition from totalitarian communism to liberal capitalism. the study of the birth of capitalism in feudal europe may yet lead to some surprising and potentially useful insights.
- Explains that the barbarian conquest of the teetering roman empire heralded five centuries of existential insecurity and mayhem. feudalism was the countryside's reaction to this damnation.
- Explains that feudalism endured well into the twentieth century in most parts of central, eastern and southeastern europe. it was entrenched in the legal systems of the ottoman empire and of czarist russia.
- Explains that manual labour and trade were derided in the ancient world. it survived only in relation to trade and other 'quot;non-productive' financial activities and even that not past the thirteenth century.
- Analyzes how communism froze the early feudal frame of mind of disdain towards non-productive, 'city-based' vocations.
- Analyzes how the city liberated its citizens from the bondage of the feudal labour contract and acted as the supreme guarantor of private property.
- Argues that communism should be distinguished from marxism, but it is ironic that even marx's'scientific materialism' has an equivalent in the twilight times of feudalism.
- Compares the communist party to the church. both religions were threatened by the spirit of freedom and initiative embodied in urban culture, commerce and finance.
- Explains that john of salisbury thought that the individual's standing within society should be based upon his office or his official function.
1272 wordsRead More - Socialism In North Korea Essayanalytical essayThe free markets eventually were the reason for why the country was able to revive the failing economy. What is socialism and capitalism exactly? Socialism is “a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, and labor, in the community as a whole”(1). Whereas capitalism is “an economic system in which investment and ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange of wealth is made and maintained chiefly by private individuals or corporations…”(1). The only way to provide a suitable way of living and a “fair” economy is by having a capitalist economy. While some argue that pure socialism is the best economic system, the truth is that pure capitalism is the better economic system to live by, because economic freedom, efficiency, and growth make life more suitable for
In this essay, the author
- Explains that north korea's government controlled all economic decisions and used its resources to develop a nuclear program. the failure to provide food was due to their flawed economy.
- Explains that capitalism is crucial to a successful government and nation because it brings growth, efficiency, and freedom.
- Explains that economic efficiency is the ideal use of scarce resources, which prevents waste and ensures the lowest cost for a product.
- Explains that while socialists think equality and security are important in an economy, they are not providing the economy with the most important goals: growth, efficiency, and freedom.
- Opines that capitalism is better than socialism because it does not promote growth, efficiency, and freedom.
- Argues that capitalism provides freedom, efficiency, and growth. it is the only answer to a successful economy because it allows people to control their own life.
1622 wordsRead More - The Economic Quest for the Development of Cubaopinion essayIn reality, it is quite astounding to look upon Cuba and what this small country has had to encounter in the past fifteen years. At the start of the 1990´s, an economic crisis struck Cuba. When the Soviet Union collapsed and the socialist bloc disappeared, Cuba, being heavily reliant on this alliance, suffered immense economic consequences. The Soviet Union was Cuba´s trading partner and vital contributor through investments, provision of resources and technology. Because of their socialist relationship, eighty-five percent of Cuba´s trade[,...] including sugar and citrus fruit [was with the Soviet Union, while at the same time] eighty-eight percent of Cuba´s i...
In this essay, the author
- Explains that americans generally frown upon communist countries, but the opinions with respect to the economy have sparked heated discourse.
- Explains that cuba's economic crisis began in the 1990s, when the soviet union collapsed and the socialist bloc disappeared, and was forced to modify its economy.
- Analyzes how the 1990s proved to be a decade of great economic change in cuba.
- Argues that cuba's new export structure has modernized the economy since service exports now eclipse commodities. the paper proposes exploring if the extent of change in cuba s economy in the 1990s has been substantial enough.
- Analyzes how cuba's economy has been moving in a positive direction since the end of the soviet era.
- Analyzes how tourism reflected the cuban communist party's decision in 1976 to emphasize the development of industrialization. the new economic plan differed not in its mission, but in the style of insertion as cuba interacted in a global capitalistic and competitive market.
- Analyzes how cuba has made tourism its new national treasure despite the united states' 43-year-old policy of discouraging financial dealings with this communist nation
- Analyzes how cuba is stuck in a cycle of relying on exports that have no higher return than to produce revenue.
- Explains that tourism is viewed as an unreliable export to base an economy in the late 90s and early part of the 21st century.
- Opines that the cuban development model in the 1990s was profitable for cuba, but it did not provide long-term solutions to changing the quality of life in this third world country.
- Analyzes the trends in cuba's economy to gain perspectives on possible changes to help the country. the two primary cuban goods at the beginning of the 21st century are sugar and nickel.
- Explains that cuban products are classified as principal exports — iron and steel products, pharmaceuticals, fruits and vegetables, coffee and cement.
- Explains that cuba's manufactured goods are relatively insignificant as a principal export, demonstrating the lack of variety in its industrial base, as medical and pharmaceutical products are only 5.2 percent of total exports.
- Describes the export value in million us$% of total exports.
- Describes the 2.1 fish products 10 190 1.9agricultural products 18 390 3.4medical and pharmaceutical products 27 900
- Explains that the cuban economy's transformation in the 1990s has evolved the exports of the country.
- Explains that although tourism only represented a minimal percentage of exports at the beginning of the decade, the service sector, including tourism, transportation, and others, like communications, is almost double
- Argues that tourism is a sign that cuba is an underdeveloped country. cuba's exports of services are disproportionate to the total economy.
- Compares exports % of total in 1990 and total in 1999.
- Describes the total exports of goods and services, including tobacco, fishing, and transportation.
- Opines that tourism is an advancement in the right direction and should not be the final process of changes for the current development of cuba.
- Opines that cuba's economic management has improved over the past 15 years despite challenging decisions and circumstances.
- Opines that the market that is developing in 2005 contains dangerous elements of distortion that threatens cuba's future. as cuba continues to hope to cash in on tourism, it may be beginning to rely too heavily on this sector for national gross revenue.
- Opines that the caribbean tourism market is beginning to show signs of maturity, and there is a limit to what you can do in cuba and in [regarding tourism].
- Explains that foreign investment has decreased in recent years due to the stagnancy of the manufacturing industry.
- Argues that cuba needs to move towards a more typical approach of development. development is not an exact science, but economic principles can be applied that will help cuba grow.
- Analyzes how the economic growth theory explains how technology and human capital have provided people with the means to raise their productivity and improve their living standards.
- Opines that cuba must strengthen its relations with other countries in order to fix this dilemma.
- Opines that cuba needs to diversify its trading partnerships and receive more foreign direct investment in order to gain a steady course of revenue.
- Opines that china is a stable source of investment in cuba's economic affairs.
- Opines that cuba needs to solidify its ability to import and export goods by strengthening its ports, which are crucial to the island's international trade and economy.
- Opines that cuba needs to develop more ports that explicitly deal with cargo. cuba currently has 34 ports with 172 docks.
- Opines that cuba's economic planners must adapt to the world economy in order to stay in the mainstream of international trade.
- Opines that cuba can stay weary of historical trends and learn from the successes of other developing countries on how to improve a third world country's economy.
- Opines that addressing cuba's economy is the only way to create more efficiency with greater equity.
- Opines that china would like to boost economic, trade relations with latin america.
- Analyzes the cuban communist party's plataforma programatica, tesis y resolucion, and frank, marc.
- Cites grogg, patricia, hockman, bernard, luxner, larry, and luxner on cuba's challenge.
- Cites martin, nancy, and monreal, pedro. domestic markets and the development prospects of cuba.
- Describes s of oficina nacional de estadisticas (one) (1999), anuario estadico de cuba 1998 (havana).
4104 wordsRead More - Nikelly A, 1988, Health Care in Cuba, University of Illinois, Illinios, Location: Kimberlin library, Short Loan S/L Offprint /NIK
In this essay, the author
- Explains that cuba's achievements in providing health care and education to the general public are better than those of many developed countries.
- Analyzes how fidel castro's achievements in providing egalitarian health care and education to the masses have been agreed as a success story.
- Explains that cuba's education and health care systems were limited and based around havana.
- Opines that castro and guevara's educational achievements in cuba over the last forty five years have been remarkable.
- Explains that the health care situation under the batista regime was in an equally bad state as the educational system.
- Describes eckstein's book, back from the future : cuba under castro, princeton university press.
- Opines that cuba's education and health service has flourished through popular participation and tight central control of educational, health, and medical programs.
- Cites azicri m, feinsilver j, and perez l, who authored cuba today and tomorrow : reinventing socialism.
- Cites kimberlin library, pamphlet 972.91064/fir nikelly a, 1988, health care in cuba, university of illinois, illinios.
1748 wordsRead More