Individual Subsistence: On a Principle of Economy and Society

Sebastian Thieme

MPRA Paper from University Library of Munich, Germany

Abstract: With this paper the author tries to clarify the terms of “public“ and “private“ with reference to the ideas of Thomas Hobbes and Johann Heinrich von Thünen. Both scientists showed that the individual's subsistence is very fundamental for a society and – therefore – the base of “public“. Additionally with reference to Polanyi's “Great Transformation“, it will be shown that the mainstream economic idea of “modern“ market economies acts strictly against the individual's subsistence. In contrast to his explanations, the protection of individual subsistence is an important part of solidarity. From that the question of shifting boundaries between “private“ and “public“ is reformulated against the background of the individual's subsistence! This paper gives reasons to think about the individual's subsistence as a neglected economic principle. Hereby it will also provide another and self-critical view from alternative economic perspective to the real question behind the shifting boundaries: Is a change in economic thinking to be expected? The insights into these problems will be especially useful in the prepartory work to discuss political activities in the light of the current economic crisis worldwide.

Keywords: History of Economic Thoughts; Thomas Hobbes; Johann Heinrich von Thünen; Karl Polanyi; Subsistence; Viablity; Right of Subsistence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: B00 B52 B59 P48 Z13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010-05-09, Revised 2010-06-21
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hpe
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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