"My claim is that we do not have a market economy, but a capitalist economy"

In this quote, David Korten compares a "market economy" and a "capitalist economy", recommending that while they are typically conflated, they have substantial distinctions. By stating, "we do not have a market economy, however a capitalist economy", Korten presents a critical viewpoint on modern-day economic systems, challenging the common narrative that equates industrialism directly with market flexibility and performance.

A market economy generally describes an economic system where choices relating to financial investment, production, and circulation are based upon supply and need, with prices identified in a complimentary cost system. It highlights competitive markets, consumer option, and minimal federal government intervention. The perfect market economy is often associated with the classical financial theories of Adam Smith, which focus on the 'invisible hand'-- the self-regulating nature of a freely running marketplace.

On the other hand, Korten's usage of "capitalist economy" suggests a system where capital build-up takes precedence over market concepts. In such an economy, the focus is on maximizing earnings for those who control capital, often resulting in significant market concentration and the dominance of large corporations. This concentration can hinder competitors and lower consumer choice, causing market failures and inequalities in wealth and power, which Korten and other critics argue are prevalent in many modern economies.

Korten most likely suggests that existing economic systems are manipulated in favor of capital owners, undermining the egalitarian suitables of a true market economy. This concentration of economic power fosters a system where policies and practices are shaped more by the interests of big corporations and financial institutions rather than by the dynamics of supply and need in a competitive market.

The distinction he makes calls for a reflection on the ethical and social ramifications of prioritizing capital accumulation over wider market concepts. Korten supporters for a re-evaluation of economic systems to align them more closely with genuine market economy worths-- like competition, innovation, and customer option-- while resolving the inequalities and power imbalances perpetuated by the existing capitalist structure.