Political Economy Analysis: Markets as Institutions of Governance

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This essay critically examines markets as institutions of governance, arguing for the need for increased governance in the global market. It explores the evolution of markets from a political economy perspective, considering the impacts of globalization and the rise of global markets. The essay analyzes arguments for and against free markets, considering the perspectives of economists like Boettke and Hayek, and the concept of the double movement. It discusses the influence of businesses on the political sphere, the impact of market integration on economic development in developing countries, and the role of moral economy and market governance. The essay highlights issues such as environmental destruction, the abuse of power, and the need for government policies to monitor market discrepancies and ensure fair practices, concluding that while markets offer opportunities, robust governance is essential to mitigate negative impacts and promote societal well-being. The essay draws on various sources to support its arguments, including the works of Boettke, Sullivan, Levy, Chomsky, and Carroll, among others.
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Running head: POLITICAL STUDIES
UNDERSTANDING MARKETS AS INSTITUTIONS OF GOVERNANCE
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1UNDERSTANDING MARKETS AS INSTITUTIONS OF GOVERNANCE
Boettke (2018) is of the opinion that markets have slowly developed into a system
of governance and into a political construct. From neoclassical economics perspective markets
are self-adjusting in nature and they are influenced by the supply and demand which reflects
individual preference. Hayek has stated that markets help to create a sense of competitive
discipline and monitor progress, he also advocated the concept of free markets and stated that
government policies to change market outcomes inhibited progress (Boettke 2018). In
retrospect, the double movement states that if the markets become self-regulatory then it would
result in the demolition of the society (Webber 2017). The following essay examines and
critically examines the markets as institution of governance. Therefore, the main argument is the
need for an increased need governance in the world market.
The advent of globalization has given rise to the concept of global market which has
redefined the concepts of the traditional businesses. Most common argument is that rise of global
markets have led to rise of new economy and has been able to provide better jobs and standard of
life. However some experts suggest that globalisation has led to new global governance issues
and global integration are currently problematic that the new fragmented world must face
(Chomsky and Wade 2002). The true intent and value of market as the institution of governance
remains to be analysed. Boettke (2018) argues that the business community is a homogenous
structure that neither supports nor opposes the political system, therefore market should be free
from governance as it inhibits its growth. Sullivan (2002) refutes the claim and states that all
business are primarily governed by their own motives and agendas hence they do influence the
political sphere to serve their purpose, meaning they have influence in the governance. He
further argues that within the same society there are several businesses some work on
international markets while others influence the domestic market. This means that these business
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2UNDERSTANDING MARKETS AS INSTITUTIONS OF GOVERNANCE
communities are not homogenous and will not support the same governing policies (Sullivan
2002).
Another claim in support of governance free market point at the economic growth in
third world countries. This meant that in the lowest of the economies the basic human rights that
is food, clothing and shelter would be met (Levy 2012). Levy (2012) supports the claim that
there has been significant reduce in the low income groups across the globe. Furthermore, there
has been significant increase in the standard of living among the countries (Levy 2012). This
means that people are have benefitted from the integration of the markets and the poverty rate
has decreased (Levy 2012). However, other evidence suggests that the food riot that happened in
2008 and 2011 suggests there is an anomaly in believing that the integration of markets has
indeed solved the issues of meeting the basic needs (Hossain et al 2014). Samimi. and Jenatabadi
(2014) state that globalisation has neither increased nor decreased economic development in the
poor countries.Hossain et al. (2014) states that food riots in third world countries occurred due to
incorrect government policing and global capitalism that had resulted in the ordeal. The
governments often fail to restore moral equilibrium in matters of food, power and money and
often results in riots like the food riots in India, Bangladesh and other developing countries
(Hossain et al 2014). This shows there needs to be governance in policies to monitor any
discrepancies in the market policing.
Chomsky and Wade (2002) suggests that expansion of market is a good indicator of
progress. It signifies that the economy is growing there are greater job opportunities. Signifying
that investments could be made easily and if the business community was competing at the
global level it also meant that the country’s economy was growing powerful (Chomsky and
Wade 2002). Samimi and Jenatabadi (2014) argue that the there is a deep sociological impact
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3UNDERSTANDING MARKETS AS INSTITUTIONS OF GOVERNANCE
that is often ignored by the ruling government and business community that affects the poorer
section of the society. According to a research the middle class is more accepting of the
community changes that happens in the society and are often unaffected by most of the changes
that affect the social construct of the poorer section (Isaac 2005). Leea et al (2019) shows that
the business community in the name of the progress often cause immense environmental
destruction. The government is often very supportive such ventures as it means more revenue for
the government and it encourages corruption and other malpractices. For example, The Korean
project POSCO had proposed a steel plant which meant that it would employ the people around
and contribute to the economy. However, the cost of the project was 540 billion dollars and
would displace about 700 households. The company had decided to spend about 1 per cent of the
money to compensate the displaced people (Leea et al 2019) This meant that about 8 million per
household. This was not the case and they only gave about two million in compensation. In many
cases the indigenous people, landless farmers and the marginalized section is the worst sufferer
who are in most cases not compensated ( Leea et al 2019).
Another argument is the role of moral economy and market governance. Carol (2012)
critiques deep marketization in various parts of the world has led to stripping of the moral
economy. Carol (2012) is of the opinion that privatization of many public sector has a very
negative impact on the society. The neo liberalism and late capitalism has caused rapid growth in
the private business sector in many developing counties (Carroll 2012). International Finance
Corporation (IFC) is regarded as one of the agencies that supports the privatization of the
companies and creates enabling environment for capitalists. This statement is supported by
Carroll (2012) who has observed that the privatisation of water resources in Philippines by the
IFC supported the privatization of one of the basic needs of the people. Thus, the money
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4UNDERSTANDING MARKETS AS INSTITUTIONS OF GOVERNANCE
collected from the revenue went to the private corporations and not the public welfare sector
where the money collected by the people is channelled back to them to develop them (Carroll
2012).
Certain economists argue that when markets are spared from the intervention of the
government the markets prosper. Hayek is in support of a free market which is not hampered by
government policy. Murphy (2016) counter argues the problems of free markets, were the
reason of the great depression and social degradation. The great depression of 1930s where the
power of the state was actually with the business class and the government had no say in the
business community ( Murphy 2016). The free reign of power also led to abuse of power and
labour and deterioration of the lowest section of the society (Murphy 2016). Which is still
evident some countries, for example in Bangladesh the factory owners pay very little amount to
their labour and profit enormously from it. The government is aware of the abuse of power yet it
has done little to serve the interest of the marginalised community (Kabeer et al 2004). Another
example is the unscrupulous abuse of power by the Mozambican politicians who deliberately
hike the prices of the food supplies so that the poorer section of the society is unable to access
their basic need for food (Hossain et al 2014). In order to profit and keep the profit surrounded
only to a handful of people there is a systematic abuse of political power which automatically
transports the governance to the markets.
The global governance suggests that IFC issues certain marketing ventures both in the
developed and underdeveloped countries through “market-dominated bonds” which are they
bought by institutional investors as well other private investors such as the Northern pension
fund which is then used to raise finances and invested in projects that are lucrative to the private
IFC projects such as the micro finance ventures (Carroll 2012). This also attracts the foreign
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5UNDERSTANDING MARKETS AS INSTITUTIONS OF GOVERNANCE
investors who are looking to invest in the emerging markets, however, they are considering the
governance policy of the host country and how it may affect their business, and IFC ensures that
the government is on board with investors thus capitalising on the development project (Carroll
2012).
Therefore some of the major take away from this evaluation is that the government
should create policies that encourages the foreign markets to expand thus creating jobs but
should monitor the business policies. The government may ensure that few sectors should not be
interfered with privatisation and should remain in the public domain such as food, water,
transportation and others. Also ensuring fair pricing policies on basic needs so that they are
accessible to the poorest section of the society.
In conclusion, there are certain grey areas for understanding the markets as the
institution of governance. There is an interrelation between the government and markets. The
markets are not homogenous organisations. There is a need to monitor market as well as
allowing certain freedom to it. However, when government also participates in foregoing the
moral economics in lieu for personal favours it becomes difficult for the masses.
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6UNDERSTANDING MARKETS AS INSTITUTIONS OF GOVERNANCE
Reference
Boettke, P.J., 2018. FA Hayek: Economics, political economy and social philosophy. Springer.
Carroll, T., 2012. Working on, through and around the state: The deep marketization of
development in the Asia-Pacific. Journal of Contemporary Asia, 42(3), pp.378-404.
Chomsky, N. and Wade, R., 2002. Global economic integration and global inequality.
Globalisation, living standards and inequality, p.9.
Hossain, N., 2014. Them Belly Full (But We Hungry): Food Rights Struggles in Bangladesh,
India, Kenya.
Isaac, B.L., 2005. 1 Karl Polanyi. A handbook of economic anthropology, p.14.
Kabeer, N. and Mahmud, S., 2004. Globalization, gender and poverty: Bangladeshi women
workers in export and local markets. Journal of international development, 16(1), pp.93-109.
Leea, H.M. and Parkb, M.J., 2019. Crisis Management Leadership and Organizational Culture
Improvement: the Case of POSCO M-TECH in Republic of Korea. International Journal of
Applied Engineering Research, 14(20), pp.3890-3899.
Levy, B., 2012. The role of globalization in economic development. Available at SSRN 2233648.
Murphy, R.P., 2016. The Midas Paradox: Financial Markets, Government Policy Shocks, and the
Great Depression. Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics, 19(1), p.101.
Samimi, P. and Jenatabadi, H.S., 2014. Globalization and economic growth: Empirical evidence
on the role of complementarities. PloS one, 9(4), p.e87824.
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7UNDERSTANDING MARKETS AS INSTITUTIONS OF GOVERNANCE
Sullivan, J.D., 2002. Democracy, governance and the market. Center for International Private
Enterprise. Available at http://usinfo. state. gov/journals/ites/0901/ijee/sullivan.html
Webber, D.M., 2017. Playing on the break’: Karl Polanyi and the double-movement ‘Against
Modern Football. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 52(7), pp.875-893.
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8UNDERSTANDING MARKETS AS INSTITUTIONS OF GOVERNANCE
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Boettke, P.J., 2018. FA Hayek: Economics, political economy and social philosophy. Springer.
https://books.google.co.in/books?
hl=en&lr=&id=YjBtDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PR9&dq=Boettke,+P.J.,+2018.+FA+Hayek:
+Economics,+political+economy+and+social+philosophy.
+Springer.&ots=ig8noxsLOA&sig=slQ4qProV7FrRSWyJ_-mqISbcvc#v=onepage&q=Boettke
%2C%20P.J.%2C%202018.%20FA%20Hayek%3A%20Economics%2C%20political
%20economy%20and%20social%20philosophy.%20Springer.&f=false
Carroll, T., 2012. Working on, through and around the state: The deep marketization of
development in the Asia-Pacific. Journal of Contemporary Asia, 42(3), pp.378-404.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00472336.2012.687628
Chomsky, N. and Wade, R., 2002. Global economic integration and global inequality.
Globalisation, living standards and inequality, p.9.
http://www.g20.utoronto.ca/biblio/globalisationproceedings.pdf#page=13
Hossain, N., 2014. Them Belly Full (But We Hungry): Food Rights Struggles in Bangladesh,
India, Kenya. https://opendocs.ids.ac.uk/opendocs/handle/123456789/6431
Isaac, B.L., 2005. 1 Karl Polanyi. A handbook of economic anthropology, p.14.
https://books.google.co.in/books?
hl=en&lr=&id=Qld8J6fzmaIC&oi=fnd&pg=PA13&dq=+Karl+Polanyi.
+A+handbook+of+economic+anthropology,++issac+&ots=eD-
LUUB2Oj&sig=L5RylLqTMFZSsz9qNtrK8yaIEgs#v=onepage&q=Karl%20Polanyi.%20A
%20handbook%20of%20economic%20anthropology%2C%20%20issac&f=false
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9UNDERSTANDING MARKETS AS INSTITUTIONS OF GOVERNANCE
Kabeer, N. and Mahmud, S., 2004. Globalization, gender and poverty: Bangladeshi women
workers in export and local markets. Journal of international development, 16(1), pp.93-109.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jid.1065
Leea, H.M. and Parkb, M.J., 2019. Crisis Management Leadership and Organizational Culture
Improvement: the Case of POSCO M-TECH in Republic of Korea. International Journal of
Applied Engineering Research, 14(20), pp.3890-3899.
http://www.ripublication.com/ijaer19/ijaerv14n20_10.pdf
Levy, B., 2012. The role of globalization in economic development. Available at SSRN
2233648. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2233648
Murphy, R.P., 2016. The Midas Paradox: Financial Markets, Government Policy Shocks, and the
Great Depression. Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics, 19(1), p.101.
https://search.proquest.com/openview/de32fb5c9a33d8e941e9cc7332fcea9a/1?pq-
origsite=gscholar&cbl=55438
Samimi, P. and Jenatabadi, H.S., 2014. Globalization and economic growth: Empirical evidence
on the role of complementarities. PloS one, 9(4), p.e87824.
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0087824
Sullivan, J.D., 2002. Democracy, governance and the market. Center for International Private
Enterprise. https://www.cipe.org/legacy/publication-docs/democracymarkets.pdf
Webber, D.M., 2017. Playing on the break’: Karl Polanyi and the double-movement ‘Against
Modern Football. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 52(7), pp.875-893.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1012690215621025
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