PROUT: May 2004 Archives

QUADRI-DIMENSIONAL ECONOMY

By Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar (father of PROUT)

A developed economy should consist of four parts -- people's economy, psycho-economy, commercial economy and general economy. This quadri-dimension of the economy is a vast expansion on the contemporary and co-contemporary conceptions of economic activity.

Most economists today understand only a little of the principles of general economy and something of commercial economy, but both of these parts are still in an undeveloped stage. People's economy and psycho-economy are totally overlooked by modern economists, and as such could find no place in the present mode of economic thinking.

By Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar

The most important economic issue before the leaders of all the countries in the world today is how to increase the standard of living of their citizens through the economic prosperity of the state. This is a burning question, especially in those countries which are economically backward. The matter is not very simple because in many countries people are still directly dependent on nature for their subsistence. Only in a few countries have people been able to utilize their knowledge and wisdom to solve their economic problems.

By Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar

Nature has been kind enough to provide abundant natural resources to every region of this earth, but she has not given the guidelines on how to distribute these resources among the members of society. This duty has been left to the discretion and intelligence of human beings.

Source: Prout in a Nutshell Part 18, by Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar

Question 1: What should be the system of share distribution in co-operatives?

Answer: PROUT advocates the phase wise socialisation of agricultural land which should be managed by farmers co- operatives. In the initial phase of transition to co-operative management, land shares should be in the hands of those who are land holders. That is, initially the shares in agricultural or farmers co-operatives should be distributed on the basis of the land vested in the co-operative. When the co-operative system is fully implemented in the agriculture sector, there will not be any distinction between landholders and non-landholders, as all members of the co-operative will be collectively responsible for the management of the land. However, this stage can only be achieved after the proper psychological preparation of the people.