Theory

The Opportunity of Labor-Time Calculation for the Problem of Private Reproductive Labor

Care work, Debate on planned economies, Feminism, solidarity economy, Theory, Transformation |

Abstract How can private reproductive labor be socialized under socialism? The text analyzes the political, cultural, and structural particularities of private reproductive labor and shows how labor-time calculation could serve as a tool to recognize it economically and, consequently, politically. Introduction to Labor-Time Calculation Labor-time calculation, as developed by the “Group of International Communists” (GIC) […]

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The Forgotten Logic of Communism

Books, Debate on planned economies, solidarity economy, Theory |

Untergrundblättle pays tribute with the article “Die vergessene Logik des Kommunismus” to the “Fundamental Principles” formulated by Jan Appel in prison in 1925 — the central theoretical text on labour-time accounting. The article by Herman Lueer is available in German and English and is highly recommended reading! We will bring the year to a dignified

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Decentralized Socialist Economic Planning

Debate on planned economies, solidarity economy, Theory |

Robin Hahnel, the founder of the planned economic model Parecon, criticized labor-time calculation in his May 2025 article “Labor Time Accounting: A Postmortem”: “The point is that labor time is not the only real cost of making different goods and services. There are environmental costs, which along with labor costs, should clearly be accounted for

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Talks in Mülheim and Dortmund

Debate on planned economies, Event, solidarity economy, Theory |

In mid-October we’re heading to the Ruhr! In Dortmund and Mülheim we’ll be giving two talks promoting the concept of working-time accounting – and bringing together what belongs together: workplace self-management and democratic planned economy as an emancipatory alternative to capitalism! 16.10. AZ Mülheim (https://www.az-muelheim.de/kontaktweg/)17.10. Black Pigeon Dortmund (https://black-pigeon.org/kontakt/)Both at 7 p.m. – free entry

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Dare the Leap

Care work, Councils, Debate on planned economies, Feminism, Theory, Transformation |

On the Post-Growth Blog, a plea for labor-time accounting has been published. In it, the Freiburg-based group La Banda Vaga explains why the “Fundamental Principles of Communist Production and Distribution” are more necessary than ever in times of multiple crises. The movements and uprisings of the past two decades, they argue, have fizzled out because

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H. Lueer replies to “Angry Workers”

Councils, Politics, Theory |

A month ago, the “Angry Workers” published a contribution to the debate on the “Fundamental Principles of Communist Production and Distribution”, the “standard work” on labor time accounting. Hermann Lueer responds and clears up some misunderstandings. Definitely worth reading! https://leftdis.wordpress.com/2025/08/25/notes-on-angry-workers-debate-contribution/

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Thoughts on the ‘Fundamental Principles of Communist Production and Distribution’

Books, Debate on planned economies, Review, Theory |

The Angry Workers have published an article critically engaging with the “Fundamental Principles of Communist Production and Distribution” — the key work on labour-time accounting. They emphasize that this text “remains, for good reason, the main reference point for our debates,” while also questioning several aspects of the theory developed within it. The article is

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