David F. Ruccio — Culture beyond capitalism

There are no "natural laws" of economics that apply across geographical space and historical time owing to a supposed universality of "human nature." This is purely projection of one culture, subculture really, onto humanity as a species. 

Humans are social animals subject to geographical and historical conditions that influence cultures and institutions in which social life is embedded. Other social scientist know this and some "heterodox" economists. But most conventional economists have either not figured this out yet or else ignore deliberately for various reasons, some methodological, e.g. for convenience, and some ideological, e.g., for persuasion.

The solution? Separate economics theoretical economics as a branch of applied mathematics and practical economics direct toward informing deliberation and action based on actual data and changing conditions. 

Then theoretical economists would have make a case for the relevance of their work to making specific decisions based on prevailing conditions and in light of data if they wished to venture from their field into matters like policy discussion.

Occasional Links & Commentary
Culture beyond capitalism
David F. Ruccio | Professor of Economics, University of Notre Dame

Robert Kirchner — Russell Brand’s Revolution

Who would have thunk that the revolution would be spearheaded by Russell Brand. Robert Kirchner looks at Brand and his latest book, Revolution, from the vantage of an anarchist (of the left).

Why should anyone serious care about Russell Brand? Because culture shapes society and its institutions and celebrities and music shape culture, especially the culture emerging with youth.

So here's a celebrity who self-identifies with anarchism in a contemporary environment of high employment where youth sees its future disappearing, class power is coming to the fore, and populism is rising.

Turns out that TPTB are indeed taking note of Brand and not favorably.

Center for a Stateless Society

Russell Brand’s Revolution
Robert Kirchner

Jonathan Kaiman — Beijing spends a billion to get China’s music industry rocking

A ‘Music Valley’ is among plans to boost the music industry. But will piracy and tight state control hold back progress?
From the top of a hillside in Pinggu village, an hour’s drive from central Beijing, the future of China’s music industry doesn’t look like much – just a vista of Mao-era farmhouses and parched cabbage fields.

Yet Beijing officials have announced plans to spend more than 10 years and £1.4bn turning the area into the “China Music Valley”, a sprawling compound that will be home to recording studios, instrument makers, music schools, five-star hotels and an arena in the shape of a peach....

China’s central government, concerned that progress in the country’s film, music and drama sectors lag behind its economic development, has designated culture a top national priority and promised billions of pounds in subsidies for the arts. “Culture is the lifeblood of a nation,” President Hu Jintao said at the start of the country’s once-in-a-decade leadership transition in November....

Despite the odds, some artists have forged their own path. Yan Haisong, the lead singer of the veteran Beijing rock band P.K.14, said his band made a decent living performing at festivals and producing records for up-and-coming artists. Yan added that no one in his professional circle had much interest in projects such as the China Music Valley. 

“Combining music and politics is really strange, because the music you get out of it just won’t be any good,” he said. “If they really want to improve this culture, they need to open up a bit.”

The Raw Story
Beijing spends a billion to get China’s music industry rocking
Jonathan Kaiman | The Guardian