Economic systems: analysis and comparison

Of all the high-sounding phrases coupling two words, "continuity and change" is the one that has always fascinated me most. It makes me think of the same life material being forever molded into new forms; the old being preserved behind the backs of innovators; the new being born from what seemed to be an outdated and outlived tradition. It makes me think of reality putting constraints on the flight of fancy, and the same reality forever creating fresh opportunities for the new to take shape.

Another fascinating thing to me has been the participation of human con sciousness and will in that universal objective process of change in continuity. It implies the possibility of change that does not just happen but is wrought to suit our human and humane purposes. In other words, the possibility of progress. notes

By way of keynoting this volume, let those two thoughts be the twin signaling the key in which I planned to compose it.

As for my thanking all those who helped this text come into being, the list of persons named can, in the nature of the case, represent only a fraction. There is Mrs. Jeannie Cashman, who patiently typed and ran off on the departmental duplicator an incredible number of chapter drafts, and Mrs. Carolyne Gouin, who meticulously typed the final manuscript. There is also David Ledgere, last in a series of students who helped me with their legs and ingenuity to take care of library errands, checking references, xeroxing, clipping, and filing.