Business and Bureaucracy: A Limited Critique of Charles Lindblom's Politics and Markets,

Abstract

In a book that deals with grand issues concerning the relationship of business and the political system, Charles Lindblom finally turns in the concluding chapter of his 'Politics and Markets' to some specific recommendations. To alleviate business privilege and the ubiquitous 'business veto,' both of which impede, in Lindblom's view, the nation's ability to deal with its problems, Dr. Lindblom suggests that we take a lesson from the nation's defense sector. Defense industries, he asserts, seem willing enough to accept a high degree of government control in return for assured profits. The lesson is clear: the government can limit corporate autonomy by guaranteeing profits, even in the case of 'enterprises producing for ordinary markets rather than for government contracts'. Financial indulgence, to use Dr. Lindblom's expression, can be used to 'offset regulatory severity.'

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 1980
Accession Number
ADA094948

Entities

People

  • Thomas L. Mcnaugher

Organizations

  • RAND Corporation

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Autonomy
  • Commerce
  • Consumers
  • Contractors
  • Contracts
  • Corporations
  • Cost Overruns
  • Costs
  • Defense Industry
  • Governments
  • New York
  • Political Systems
  • Procurement
  • Production
  • Public Policy
  • United States

Readers

  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Industrial Economics
  • Theoretical Analysis.