The Early Debate on Economic Calculation in Vienna (1919-1925): The Heterodox Point of View: Neurath, Mises and Polanyi

This paper is based on the idea that the early debate on economic calculation in a planned economy conducted in Vienna among Neurath, Mises, and Polanyi (1919-1925) was the starting point for the development of a particular form of heterodox economic theory propounded by liberal thinkers like Mises and by socialists like Neurath and Polanyi. Mises claimed that solving the problem of calculation was impossible, and consequently that a centrally planned economy was not theoretically feasible. Neurath and Polanyi instead sought to solve the problem of calculation and, despite certain profound differences between their views, they proposed a socialistic model alternative to the orthodox Marxist one.