3. HOW IS THE PAST RELEVANT TO TODAY

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3. HOW IS THE PAST RELEVANT TO TODAYS POLICY
ISSUES?

• Larry D. Sanders
• Fall 2005

Dept. of Ag Economics Oklahoma State
University
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INTRODUCTION

• Purpose
• to understand the interaction between cultural,
  economic political perspectives how they
  evolve over time
• Learning Objectives
• 1. Be aware of the historical roots of our
  modern economic system food policy.
• 2. Understand the history of todays political
  economy.

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History matters . . .

• If you dont know where youre going, youll
  probably end up somewhere else.
• --David Campbell
• If you dont know where youve been, youre
  doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past on the
  way to somewhere else
• --Larry Sanders
• The past can only be known, not changed. The
  future can only be changed, not known.
• --Stewart Brands Asymmetry

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Historical Roots of Modern Economic System

• ERA IDEOLOGY ECONOMY
• Primitive Ritual/taboos Reciprocity
  Redistribution
• Householding
• Medieval Christian Feudalism
• Europe Paternalism

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Historic Roots (cont.)

• ERA IDEOLOGY ECONOMY
• Industrial Classical Capitalism
• --Early Liberalism
• --Mid C.L. Business
• Paternalism
• --Late Old Liberalism
• Post Indust. Old New Capitalism
• Liberalism Keynes
• Contem- Technocratic Mixed
• porary Paternalism

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Perspectives in Political Economy
INDIVIDUAL
EQUALITY
HIERARCHY
COMMUNITY
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Summary

• Mixed economy of today has evolved from
  historical roots (traditional, industrial
  post-industrial)
• Perspectives of political economy are complex
  (modern liberal, classical liberal, conservative,
  radical) but define the political approaches and
  philosophical perspectives for todays policy
  choices

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Assignments

• 8 Sep Read Knutson ch. 2 (pp.27-37) Review
  handouts.
• 13 Sep Based on discussion in class handouts,
• Identify your political economy perspective
• discuss how your perspective views
• government
• efficiency

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Haymaking by Pieter Brueghel the Elder (1565)
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