This Machine Kills 439. Do Socialists Dream of Electric Institutions, Part 2 (ft. Aaron Benanav)
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Jan 7, 2026 In this discussion, Aaron Benanav, a political economy scholar and author, delves into envisioning post-capitalist frameworks without rigid blueprints. He critiques existing economic structures, advocating for flexible institutional designs. Topics include the necessity of markets for producer coordination, maintaining scarcity in a new economy, and rethinking monetary systems. Benanav emphasizes the importance of intrinsic motivation over profit and introduces innovative concepts like investment boards and technical associations as alternatives to traditional unions.
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Keep Markets For Producer Coordination
- Markets are crucial for organizing inter-firm linkages because producers need direct, specific supplier relationships.
- Benanav says markets should be retained for producer and consumer diversity while removing profit motives.
Dual Currency Removes Profit Motive
- The dual-currency separates producer points from consumer credits to remove profit as a production motive.
- Points circulate only among producers as a means of exchange, preventing accumulation and hoarding.
Strip Store-Of-Value From Producer Money
- Points act as a means of exchange but not a store of value, ensuring they fully circulate in production networks.
- This design increases macroeconomic stability by preventing private hoarding of production currency.
