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Progressive Utilization Theory, also known by the acronym PROUT, is a
collection of socioeconomic and political ideas propounded by Indian
philosopher and spiritual leader Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar. Considered an integral
part of his spiritual philosophy, Sarkar formulated the theory of his Ananda
Marga movement in 1959 and summarized it in the fifth chapter of his book
Ananda Sutram.
Description
According to a description by Terry Irving and Rowan Cahill, PROUT
"envisages a decentralized, community-based world economy of self-
sufficiency for the poor; economic democracy; small business; and limits on the
accumulation of wealth." Sohail Inayatullah stated that the philosophy "attempts
to balance the need for societies to create wealth and grow with the
requirements for distribution.” David Skrbina characterized PROUT as a
"model of social development... which advocates a 'small is beautiful' approach
to society." Economics instructor Mark Friedman places Sarkar's economic
thought in the tradition of Monsignor John A. Ryan, E.F. Schumacher and
Herman Daly in Sarkar's incorporation of spiritual values into economic goals.
Sarkar positioned it as an alternative to communism and capitalism. It has been
characterized as a form of "progressive socialism" as well as a "socialist
theory". PROUT recognizes all material goods as common property and seeks
the rational and equitable distribution of that property to maximize the physical,
mental, and spiritual development of all people. It seeks to guarantee what it
recognizes as the five minimum requirements of life for human beings: food,
clothing, shelter, education, and medical care.