Branko Milanovic, an economist who studies global inequality, writes about capitalism, Yugoslavia, trade, and income distribution.
HN commenters cite him on inequality and mobility, worker-owned enterprises in Yugoslavia, and life there, calling his descriptions of the problems clear-eyed.
Brando Milanovic wrote up a pretty clear-eyed description of the problems with worker-owned enterprises, even in states that market socialists look to as better examples such as the former Yugoslavia [1]. He speaks with some authority, as both an economist and someone who worked in one of those. To me, it seems like there are important unsolved problems with worker-managed enterprises at scale (exceptions like Mondragon notwithstanding), but I’m speaking as an armchair observer. I agree with the aims involved (workers should enjoy the full fruits of their labor and have control over their working conditions), but it seems there are still challenges to scaling this sort of organization up.
1. https://glineq.blogspot.com/2021/11/socialist-enterprise-power-structure.html
>While the tech bodyshops (TCS, Infosys, etc.) might have a poor reputation in the US, these companies have been absolutely critical in helping move tens of millions into middle-class respectability
This is related to the Elephant Curve brought out by Globalization
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Elephant_Curve
That is more or less, middle classes from developing countries exploded in number. While for the developed countries, their middle class doesnt share the same fortune. The upper class however, reap heavy fortune.
Unfortunately it seems the developed countries' middle class appetite to sustain this is waning.
http://glineq.blogspot.com/2022/10/lets-go-back-to-mercantilism-and-trade.html
One thing I think is important to anchor discussions of inequality and mobility is the great gatsby curve:
http://glineq.blogspot.com/2016/04/the-schumpeter-hotel-income-inequality.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Gatsby_curve
Basically there are no countries which are both highly unequal and highly meritocratic. Perhaps our path towards more social mobility is straight-forward wealth redistribution.
This bog post by Branko Milanović touches on this. (A development and inequality specialist)
https://glineq.blogspot.com/2018/06/bob-allens-new-poverty-machine-and-its.html
I when I carefully read it the claim was poverty in the developed world is underestimated. As is poverty in the developing world.
you would not want a country in which politicians decide alone against the interest of their businesses and their own people
That's pretty much exactly what Putin or Kim jong un is doing
https://glineq.blogspot.com/2022/03/the-end-of-end-of-history-what-have-we.html
they don't fit the narrative... happy people are boring news.
Read Branko Milanovic take about Yugoslavia: "How I lost my past" https://glineq.blogspot.com/2017/09/how-i-lost-my-past.html