Talk:capitalism

VAGUENESS - UNREGULATED BY WHOM ?
I have added a new definition as the previous entry, i.e.:- "A social and economic system based on private property rights, including the private ownership of resources or capital, with economic decisions made through the largely through the operation of a free market rather than by state control. The practical implementation of capitalism within political systems varies between complete (laissez-faire) free markets and mixed-economy state-capitalism or welfare states." is obviously no good. According to this definition we have been capitalist since before the Babylonians! Whatever happened to the Classical & Fuedal eras? I believe a definition forged from the theories of Smith, Marx, Keynes, Friedman etc to be more correct. Kim Giles 7/7/05


 * I believe that yes we have been capitalist since before the Babylonians, but am not going to get into a debate of how much state control we can have without being called communist. (I believe the state has always had some degree of control - ancient and medieval monarchies included). However the current definition (02 May 2012 22:00) doesnt even mention that a capitalist system is unregulated by THE STATE ! It say: "a socio-economic system based on private property rights, including the private ownership of resources or capital, with economic decisions made largely through the operation of an unregulated market." UNREGULATED BY WHOM ? The implication is by the state, but definitions are not supposed to have vague implications, but rather facts. Therefore although I disagree with this definition the isue of state regulation, I am at least going to change it to reflect "an unregulated market" which is unregulated by THE STATE. Some advice - what does an old Oxford dictionary say about the definition of capitalism. Surely we cant argue about that ! Please dont remove my minor edit that will add the word state or government. --41.118.217.59 20:21, 2 May 2012 (UTC)

Re> capitalism system is by definition not state controlled ?
I am writing this in answer to a previous editor who commented "capitalism system is by definition not state controlled". My first comment is "By whose definition?". Perhaps the Wiktionarys? Do you see the implications? We are writing a definition, hence 'by definition' means nothing. Secondly, why can't capitalism be state controlled? All modern states that I can think of have a measure of state-control, does that mean that none of them are capitalist? - 212.139.25.22 13:34, 7 August 2005 (UTC)


 * Lack of state control sounds like free market ideology. Is this notion directly linked to capitalism?
 * P.S: You should sign your posts. - JamesPoulson (talk) 00:19, 21 December 2015 (UTC)

Definition
I prefer the number 3, although I also like the mention of free market as opposed to state control. Oops, the definition from WP is longer than I noticed. It seems clearly better to me than the current Wiktionary ones and is sourced. --Daniel Polansky 16:59, 2 April 2008 (UTC)

Cantonese translation requests
For terms having Chinese entries WITH Cantonese pronunciations, could you kindly check the Chinese entries yourself and add translations if you wish? "capitalism" and "socialism" both have Cantonese sections. The same with Tibet and autobiography. --Anatoli T. (обсудить/вклад) 23:36, 4 November 2014 (UTC)

The notion of competition?
I came accross this definition on investopedia:

DEFINITION of 'Capitalism'

A system of economics based on the private ownership of capital and production inputs, and on the production of goods and services for profit. The production of goods and services is based on supply and demand in the general market (market economy), rather than through central planning (planned economy). Capitalism is generally characterized by competition between producers. Other facets, such as the participation of government in production and regulation, vary across models of capitalism.

What do you think? Is competition an integral part of capitalism? Can it exist without competition? - JamesPoulson (talk) 23:46, 20 December 2015 (UTC)

Ownership, control, regulation and freedom to do
One definition of capitalism focuses on ownership as in being the characteristic that distinguishes itself from, say, socialism as in an economic system.

The definition in 2005 mentions this:


 * The practical implementation of capitalism within political systems varies between complete (laissez-faire) free markets and mixed-economy state capitalism or welfare state.

The more recent version adds the near absence of regulation as a characteristic and fits the liberal (as in seeking economic freedom) or free market view.

Obviously, the complete absence of regulation would mean that there are no capitalist economies in the world at the present time.

Note that a mixed economy can be defined as an economic system:


 * Consisting of a mixture of either markets and economic planning, public ownership and private ownership.
 * Or markets and economic interventionism, with non-interventionism being a libertarian (as being derived from liberalism) principle.

The page now has both definitions since the second is frequently used online. JamesPoulson (talk) 13:57, 4 December 2016 (UTC)