Computers Quote by Paul Mason
““Cockshott and Cottrell argue that improvements in computer power, together with the application of advanced maths and information theory removes, in principle, the Hayek/Robbins objection: that the planner can never have better realtime information than a market. What’s more, unlike the left in the calculation debate, they say the computer model we would need for planned production should use the labour theory of value, and not try to simulate the results of supply and demand.””
About This Quote
Source Article: “The Future of Planning” in Wired, 2015
Advanced computing and mathematics could give planners real‑time data, challenging the view that markets always have superior information.
In simple terms: Computers might let planners match market information, questioning traditional economic objections.
Key Takeaway
Explore tech‑driven planning models.
Themes
economics
technology
information theory
Mood
analytical
skeptical
Type
theoretical
critical
When to use this quote
- government budgeting
- resource allocation
- industrial strategy
Key Concepts
central planning
data analytics
labor theory of value
Questions to Reflect On
- Can technology truly replace market signals?
- What ethical concerns arise from centralized data control?
A Different Perspective
Implementation depends on political will and data quality.
![“Ever read any [Friedrich] Hayek? He's great. The Road To Serfdom is like... I'm not a big political-science reader, but I actually dog-eared my copy. I ended up going back through it and writing a précis, I was so impressed by this book. It's all about what happens when government tries to make…” quote by P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2be/p-j-o-rourke-184_bigs_ever-read-any-friedrich-hayek-he-s-great_507817.jpg)
