The hallmark of Communism, as practiced by the Soviet Union from the revolution in l917 to the fall in 1989, was the 5 year plan. Government apparatchiks controlled the economy with an iron grip, from production quotas to consumer goods. Central planning ruled.
Compare that with the flexibility of the free market. It's goal is to attract the consumer. Only at the point of sale, when money trades for product, can the economy grow and boost our living standards.
The latest innovation in retail, for example, is the pop-up shop. Many multi-billion dollar companies now use short-term store fronts or dramatic displays to draw attention. Adidas, for example, built a giant shoe box in New York City. Onlookers entered the curious structure and discovered a world of elaborate product displays. It was a physical experience. They could touch and hold the merchandise. Then shoppers were told they could buy in-store or order on-line. Beautiful. A great combination of the tactile and the net.
Pop-up shops forced mall owners to rethink their long-term and anchor tenant practices. Today, the consumer wants surprise, delight and a new experience. Perhaps the static, boring, ho-hum stores that we visit year after year will be gone someday. Or they may re-invent themselves. That's the beauty of the free market. Creative change. And that's why communism died.
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