[whatshisface]

Doesn't every nationwide firm engage in central economic planning?

[dh2022]

Yes and no. A large national firm like Starbucks has a national annual plan. However, this national plan is made up of a lot of little regional plans which are then combined together. This national plan is then executed. Execution relative to plan is assessed every quarter; and every quarter the plans (both national and regional) are adjusted. This assessment and these adjustments are done at both national level and also at regional level.

[immibis]

Were the Soviet Union plans not also made of the plans of individual regions? (did you ever wonder what the Soviet Union was a Union of?)

[WalterBright]

Yup. But they have competitors!

[whatshisface]

It sounds like the issue is competitors or the absence thereof more so than central allocation based on market forecasts being possible or impossible.

[WalterBright]

> It sounds like the issue is competitors

You nailed it.