Artha Vijnana: Journal of The Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics

K. K. Das Gupta

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine in the context of Soviet and East European economies, a few issues and instruments of rationality of the post-reform period. The main emphasis has been to understand the socialist point/s of view regarding economic rationality. The description part of prices, cost etc. has been included for identifying the supra-institutional and intra-institutional components of these parameters and also for identifying the conceptual foundation. A few issues of value-price debate have been included for the same purpose. The role of the state and also of the party as superstructure in relation to the economy, that is, the base in socialist countries in the light of experiences has also been attempted to understand the importance of the base-superstructure nexus for ensuring economic rationality in socialism. The paper is divided into two sections seemingly detached thematically but an important connection could be found to identify the author's contention.

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K. K. Das Gupta

Abstract

THE main purpose of this paper is to examine important methodological issues relating to scientific investigations and in particular, investigations in social sciences with economics receiving the priority treatment. The point of departure in this regard has been the philosophy of Nicholas Georgescu-Roegen elaborated mainly in his 'The Entropy Law and the Economic Process' and his other writings pertaining to this subject.

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K. K. Das Gupta

Abstract

The existentialist philosopher Kirkegaard once reflected in his 'Incomplete Philosophical Manuscript' on the role of academics and said that it ends in making tea out of dried tea leaves which were kept wrapped in a paper after already making tea three times. As far as polemics for and against Marx in the academic circle is concerned Kirkegaardian diagnosis seems to bold good with sufficient degree of exactness.

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