Tom Malleson
Biographic Data
| ID | 369114 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Tom Malleson |
| GIVEN NAMES | Tom |
| FAMILY NAME | Malleson |
| SIGNATURE | MALLESON T |
| AFFILIATIONS | Western University |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-3708-7907 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 19 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 34 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 19 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2013 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
Hierarchy, equality, or democracy: Examining the tradeoffs in the governance of economic organizations
This paper investigates the Standard Hierarchical View – the perspective that the only way to satisfactorily organize business entities in the modern world is through a hierarchical governance structure. Although this view is dominant across sociology, it is in need of serious revision. Whereas the Standard Hierarchical View assumes that there are only two fundamental possibilities for organizing economic enterprises – firms can be efficient-and-…
Carensian market socialism: A friendly investigation
A legal right to workplace democracy: The Right to Collectively Buy-In
Against Desert: Mysticism, Ableism, and the Level Playing Field
The understructure of market production
This paper argues that the mainstream economics view of production based on the conventional factors of production is socially and empirically inaccurate, giving a distorted view of the nature of the production process and the agents responsible for it. Although the factors of production are essential, just as important are the various social, cultural, and political enabling conditions, or what is termed the ‘understructure’ of market production…
Two types of democratic representation for the two wills of the people
High-quality deliberative democracy is possible, it is just rare. A few years ago, I attended a mini-conference in Madison, Wisconsin. The format was that a small group of 20 academics spent three days sitting around a table discussing a specific proposal for a legislature by lot (eventually to become Gastil & Wright (2019b)). I began the conference adamantly opposed to the proposal. However, something very unusual for academic conferences transp…
Part-Time for All: A Care Manifesto
Part-Time for All offers solutions to four pressing problems: inequality for care-givers; family stress from demands of work and care; chronic time scarcity; and policy makers who are ignorant of care and care-givers with little access to policy making—the care/policy divide. Only a radical restructuring of both work and care can redress all these problems. We propose new norms: no one does paid work for more than 30 hours a week, and everyone co…
The Corporation, Democracy, and the Idea of the Bicameral Firm
This article introduces this special issue on the bicameral firm. It lays the groundwork by providing a brief overview of the democratic firm in its historical and political context. The article describes the main problems that large undemocratic corporations pose for society; it contrasts the main ways in which theorists and social movements have sought to democratize the firm-from voice-centric models (such as codetermination) to ownership-cent…
Good Short-Time Work for All
This paper advances three arguments. First, current working-time patterns are destructive of justice, especially in terms of environmental sustainability, gender equality, and personal autonomy. Second, making fundamental progress towards these goals requires secure, quality, short-time work for all. This refers to an economic system that would guarantee everyone a decent, secure, existence at roughly 30 hours or less of market work, as well as a…
Good life egalitarianism
This article carves out a new path between the two dominant wings of contemporary egalitarianism. The luck egalitarian emphasis on choice and personal responsibility is misplaced because individuals differ so deeply, and arbitrarily, in their choice-making capacities. Allowing inequalities to result from ‘choice’ is akin to allowing inequalities to stem from the possession of any other morally arbitrary factor – such as skin colour or gender. The…
To each according to their effort? On the ethical significance of hard work
Interdependency: The fourth existential insult to humanity
Should Democracy Work through Elections or Sortition
Are democratic ideals better served by elections or sortition? Is the ideal national legislature one that is elected, chosen by lot, or some combination thereof? To answer these questions properly, it is necessary to perform a careful, balanced, and systematic comparison of the strengths and weaknesses of each. To do so, this article uses foundational democratic values-political equality, popular control, deliberative nature, and competency-as me…
Offending the One Percent: Seven Arguments Against Distributive Desert
The belief that people morally deserve the income they acquire in the market is both powerful and deep-rooted. Nevertheless, most political philosophers are skeptical of the idea that market income is morally deserved. There is thus a large and uncomfortable chasm between the philosophical mainstream and the actual public. The purpose of this article was to inject new intellectual effort in closing this gap. The goal is the ambitious one of a com…
A Community-Based Good Life or Eco-Apartheid
If climate change continues unabated it will create massive insecurity and displacement, particularly for people in the Global South, leading to extreme pressure to migrate to the Global North. Yet political policy in the North is overwhelmingly hostile to large-scale immigration. We are therefore on a collision course of increased pressure to migrate facing increased barriers to migration – a global structure I refer to as eco-apartheid. This pa…
After Occupy: Economic Democracy for the 21st Century
"These days, it is easy to be cynical about democracy. Even though there are more democratic societies now (119 and counting) than ever before, skeptics can point to low turnouts in national elections, the degree to which money corrupts the process, and the difficulties of mass participation in complex systems as just a few reasons why the system is flawed. The Occupy movement in 2011 proved that there is an emphatic dissatisfaction with the curr…
R awls, Property‐Owning Democracy, and Democratic Socialism
Making the Case for Workplace Democracy: Exit and Voice as Mechanisms of Freedom in Social Life
This article contrasts associations where members' freedom can be safeguarded by the capacity to "exit" with associations where freedom requires democratic "voice." The article first examines several familiar types of associations in an effort to illuminate the extent to which workers have an inherent right to a democratic voice in their workplaces—or, workplace democracy. Although workplaces are typically contrasted with states, towns, and clubs…
Economic Democracy: The Left’s Big Idea for the Twenty-First Century
While the notion that parts of the economy should be subject to democratic oversight is not particularly new, it is only recently that the term “economic democracy” has begun to emerge as a political label and a political project in its own right. Interest in economic democracy is at a historical high as more and more people search for a comprehensive alternative to neoliberal capitalism that is neither state socialism nor social democracy. In ad…
Should Democracy Work through Elections or Sortition
Are democratic ideals better served by elections or sortition? Is the ideal national legislature one that is elected, chosen by lot, or some combination thereof? To answer these questions properly, it is necessary to perform a careful, balanced, and systematic comparison of the strengths and weaknesses of each. To do so, this article uses foundational democratic values-political equality, popular control, deliberative nature, and competency-as me…
Making the Case for Workplace Democracy: Exit and Voice as Mechanisms of Freedom in Social Life
This article contrasts associations where members' freedom can be safeguarded by the capacity to "exit" with associations where freedom requires democratic "voice." The article first examines several familiar types of associations in an effort to illuminate the extent to which workers have an inherent right to a democratic voice in their workplaces—or, workplace democracy. Although workplaces are typically contrasted with states, towns, and clubs…
Offending the One Percent: Seven Arguments Against Distributive Desert
The belief that people morally deserve the income they acquire in the market is both powerful and deep-rooted. Nevertheless, most political philosophers are skeptical of the idea that market income is morally deserved. There is thus a large and uncomfortable chasm between the philosophical mainstream and the actual public. The purpose of this article was to inject new intellectual effort in closing this gap. The goal is the ambitious one of a com…
Interdependency: The fourth existential insult to humanity
Two types of democratic representation for the two wills of the people
High-quality deliberative democracy is possible, it is just rare. A few years ago, I attended a mini-conference in Madison, Wisconsin. The format was that a small group of 20 academics spent three days sitting around a table discussing a specific proposal for a legislature by lot (eventually to become Gastil & Wright (2019b)). I began the conference adamantly opposed to the proposal. However, something very unusual for academic conferences transp…
Economic Democracy: The Left’s Big Idea for the Twenty-First Century
While the notion that parts of the economy should be subject to democratic oversight is not particularly new, it is only recently that the term “economic democracy” has begun to emerge as a political label and a political project in its own right. Interest in economic democracy is at a historical high as more and more people search for a comprehensive alternative to neoliberal capitalism that is neither state socialism nor social democracy. In ad…
Against Desert: Mysticism, Ableism, and the Level Playing Field
The Corporation, Democracy, and the Idea of the Bicameral Firm
This article introduces this special issue on the bicameral firm. It lays the groundwork by providing a brief overview of the democratic firm in its historical and political context. The article describes the main problems that large undemocratic corporations pose for society; it contrasts the main ways in which theorists and social movements have sought to democratize the firm-from voice-centric models (such as codetermination) to ownership-cent…
Good Short-Time Work for All
This paper advances three arguments. First, current working-time patterns are destructive of justice, especially in terms of environmental sustainability, gender equality, and personal autonomy. Second, making fundamental progress towards these goals requires secure, quality, short-time work for all. This refers to an economic system that would guarantee everyone a decent, secure, existence at roughly 30 hours or less of market work, as well as a…
Good life egalitarianism
This article carves out a new path between the two dominant wings of contemporary egalitarianism. The luck egalitarian emphasis on choice and personal responsibility is misplaced because individuals differ so deeply, and arbitrarily, in their choice-making capacities. Allowing inequalities to result from ‘choice’ is akin to allowing inequalities to stem from the possession of any other morally arbitrary factor – such as skin colour or gender. The…
To each according to their effort? On the ethical significance of hard work
Making the Case for Workplace Democracy: Exit and Voice as Mechanisms of Freedom in Social Life
This article contrasts associations where members' freedom can be safeguarded by the capacity to "exit" with associations where freedom requires democratic "voice." The article first examines several familiar types of associations in an effort to illuminate the extent to which workers have an inherent right to a democratic voice in their workplaces—or, workplace democracy. Although workplaces are typically contrasted with states, towns, and clubs…
Economic Democracy: The Left’s Big Idea for the Twenty-First Century
While the notion that parts of the economy should be subject to democratic oversight is not particularly new, it is only recently that the term “economic democracy” has begun to emerge as a political label and a political project in its own right. Interest in economic democracy is at a historical high as more and more people search for a comprehensive alternative to neoliberal capitalism that is neither state socialism nor social democracy. In ad…
After Occupy: Economic Democracy for the 21st Century
"These days, it is easy to be cynical about democracy. Even though there are more democratic societies now (119 and counting) than ever before, skeptics can point to low turnouts in national elections, the degree to which money corrupts the process, and the difficulties of mass participation in complex systems as just a few reasons why the system is flawed. The Occupy movement in 2011 proved that there is an emphatic dissatisfaction with the curr…
R awls, Property‐Owning Democracy, and Democratic Socialism
A Community-Based Good Life or Eco-Apartheid
If climate change continues unabated it will create massive insecurity and displacement, particularly for people in the Global South, leading to extreme pressure to migrate to the Global North. Yet political policy in the North is overwhelmingly hostile to large-scale immigration. We are therefore on a collision course of increased pressure to migrate facing increased barriers to migration – a global structure I refer to as eco-apartheid. This pa…
Offending the One Percent: Seven Arguments Against Distributive Desert
The belief that people morally deserve the income they acquire in the market is both powerful and deep-rooted. Nevertheless, most political philosophers are skeptical of the idea that market income is morally deserved. There is thus a large and uncomfortable chasm between the philosophical mainstream and the actual public. The purpose of this article was to inject new intellectual effort in closing this gap. The goal is the ambitious one of a com…
Interdependency: The fourth existential insult to humanity
Should Democracy Work through Elections or Sortition
Are democratic ideals better served by elections or sortition? Is the ideal national legislature one that is elected, chosen by lot, or some combination thereof? To answer these questions properly, it is necessary to perform a careful, balanced, and systematic comparison of the strengths and weaknesses of each. To do so, this article uses foundational democratic values-political equality, popular control, deliberative nature, and competency-as me…
To each according to their effort? On the ethical significance of hard work
Good Short-Time Work for All
This paper advances three arguments. First, current working-time patterns are destructive of justice, especially in terms of environmental sustainability, gender equality, and personal autonomy. Second, making fundamental progress towards these goals requires secure, quality, short-time work for all. This refers to an economic system that would guarantee everyone a decent, secure, existence at roughly 30 hours or less of market work, as well as a…
Good life egalitarianism
This article carves out a new path between the two dominant wings of contemporary egalitarianism. The luck egalitarian emphasis on choice and personal responsibility is misplaced because individuals differ so deeply, and arbitrarily, in their choice-making capacities. Allowing inequalities to result from ‘choice’ is akin to allowing inequalities to stem from the possession of any other morally arbitrary factor – such as skin colour or gender. The…
Part-Time for All: A Care Manifesto
Part-Time for All offers solutions to four pressing problems: inequality for care-givers; family stress from demands of work and care; chronic time scarcity; and policy makers who are ignorant of care and care-givers with little access to policy making—the care/policy divide. Only a radical restructuring of both work and care can redress all these problems. We propose new norms: no one does paid work for more than 30 hours a week, and everyone co…
The Corporation, Democracy, and the Idea of the Bicameral Firm
This article introduces this special issue on the bicameral firm. It lays the groundwork by providing a brief overview of the democratic firm in its historical and political context. The article describes the main problems that large undemocratic corporations pose for society; it contrasts the main ways in which theorists and social movements have sought to democratize the firm-from voice-centric models (such as codetermination) to ownership-cent…
The understructure of market production
This paper argues that the mainstream economics view of production based on the conventional factors of production is socially and empirically inaccurate, giving a distorted view of the nature of the production process and the agents responsible for it. Although the factors of production are essential, just as important are the various social, cultural, and political enabling conditions, or what is termed the ‘understructure’ of market production…
Two types of democratic representation for the two wills of the people
High-quality deliberative democracy is possible, it is just rare. A few years ago, I attended a mini-conference in Madison, Wisconsin. The format was that a small group of 20 academics spent three days sitting around a table discussing a specific proposal for a legislature by lot (eventually to become Gastil & Wright (2019b)). I began the conference adamantly opposed to the proposal. However, something very unusual for academic conferences transp…
Carensian market socialism: A friendly investigation
A legal right to workplace democracy: The Right to Collectively Buy-In
Against Desert: Mysticism, Ableism, and the Level Playing Field
Hierarchy, equality, or democracy: Examining the tradeoffs in the governance of economic organizations
This paper investigates the Standard Hierarchical View – the perspective that the only way to satisfactorily organize business entities in the modern world is through a hierarchical governance structure. Although this view is dominant across sociology, it is in need of serious revision. Whereas the Standard Hierarchical View assumes that there are only two fundamental possibilities for organizing economic enterprises – firms can be efficient-and-…
Law (15 works) · Political science (15 works) · Sociology (14 works) · Politics (13 works) · Law (12 works) · Economics (11 works) · Law and economics (9 works) · Democracy (8 works) · Epistemology (7 works) · Political Economy and Marxism (6 works)