Search results

The global society, today, is under serious stress. Among other things, this stress follows from a continuous breakdown of the rules of the game whereby one or two super‐powers have been trying to maintain their hegemony in different parts of the world. As a result, expenditure on armaments and means of human destruction has been mounting. It is estimated that the expenditure on the military in 1978 was 412 billion US dollars. Since then it has accelerated much faster. There is now such a large stockpile of destructive atomic weapons that it can destroy industrial civilisation — the creator of this stockpile — in a matter of hours.

Perestroika is defined and the type of economic change it implies is considered. Its potential for realising its objectives is assessed by evaluating various principles of Gandhian economics. Perestroika relates well to swadeshi equality, non‐exploitation and bread labour. It has some elements of aprigraha but completely lacks trusteeship. It is this lack of the principle of trusteeship that may be its undoing.

This register of current research in social economics has been compiled by the International Institute of Social Economics. The register does not claim to be comprehensive but is merely an aid for research workers and institutions interested in social economics. The register will be updated and made more comprehensive in the future but this is largely dependent on the inflow of information from researchers in social economics. In order to facilitate this process a standardised form is to be found on the last page of this register. Completed forms, with attached sheets as necessary, should be returned to the compiler: Dr Barrie O. Pettman, Director, International Institute of Social Economics, Enholmes Hall, Patrington, Hull, N. Humberside, England, HU12 OPR. Any other comments on the register will also be welcome.