Central Planning | Tinbergen, Jan, 1903-1994

This study deals with the process of central economic planning, or economic planning by governments. It aims at a threefold treatment, which may be summarized as follows: (a) to describe the process of central planning, considered as one of the service industries of a modern economy; (b) to analyze its impact on the general economic process; (c) to indicate, as far as possible, the optimal extent and techniques of central planning. This means that, under (a), central economic planning will be made the object of traditional economic analysis. It will be described and analyzed like any other element of the economic process: its product and factors will be defined, its possible methods of production set out, as well as the possibilities to increase its efficiency in the narrower sense.

Foreword

Preface

Nature of This Study; Origin of Planning

Actors and Task of Planning

Activities Involved in Planning

Procedure 

Timing 

Methods 

Organization 

An International Comparison of Planning Processes 

From Unplanned to Planned Policy 

Contents of Plans 

Drawbacks of Coordinated Action 

Theoretical Analysis of the Influence of Planning 

Empirical Evidence 

Deviations from Plans in Actual Development 

Need for Planning Dependent on Circumstances

Need for Forecasts

Importance of Aims

Necessity of Coordination

Possibilities of Planning

Differences in the Degree of Planning

Today’s Most Serious Controversy

Doctrinaire Views

Differences in Social Welfare Function

Differences Open to Argument

The Unknowns of the Problem 

The Optimum Regime 

Optimum Planning: Choices to Be Made 

Criteria for Optimum Planning 

Some Remarks on Optimum Methods: What Must Be Planned? 

Some Remarks on Optimum Methods: Planning in Stages? 

Some Remarks on Optimum Procedures 

Appendix: An International Comparison of Planning Processes