That's what I gathered from my friend (my memory of the economic aspects of his work have escaped my brain).
One specific I remember my friend touting was a "guaranteed wage" (probably not the exact term)--everyone receiving at least what's needed for the basics of life...
The guaranteed wage is in 'Beyond This Horizon'. See p 7 of my Signet pb printed in 1964. Your page may vary slightly due to whatever edition or soft copy version you may be reading/viewing. But, the general discussion is early in the book, so easy to find. The term used in BTH is 'Monthly Citizens Allowance' and about two-thirds of they way down p8, Munroe Clifford Alpha discusses the Law of Stable Money. On p9, the discussion between Hamilton Felix establishes that food is free ( "Why pay out hard cash for bad food when good food is included in your basic dividend?" ) but the basic ration is not inspiring. So, Hamilton takes Monroe-Alpha to a pay-restaurant to advance the plot.
Another place where economics is discussed is in his Future History Chart where the REMARKS say, "The Interregnum was followed by a reorganization in which the Voorhis proposals gave a temporary economic stability and a chance for re-organization. This was ended by the opening of new frontiers and a return to nineteenth century economics." If interested, see
Out of Debt, Out of Danger: Proposals for Tomorrow's Money: Jerry Voorhis: 9780982344842: Amazon.com: Books by Jerry Voorhis. Voorhis was a Democratic Representative from California's 12 District from 1934 to 1954 who was a socialist who registered Democrat in the early 30's. The 12th district in 34 - 54 ran from Pasadena to the Orange and San Bernardino county lines. If not Heinlein's representative, he was certainly aware of Voorhis.
There are a few things that I think people discussing Heinlein's political beliefs, economic beliefs, etc. tend to forget while grinding their own axes.
1. He was first and foremost a teller of stories. He wrote, initially at least, to entertain and to sell a story. He needed the money to survive. He created conditions and environments to fit a story. He wrote many of stories to fit the opinions of the editor of Astounding, John Campbell.
2. He loved the USA of the 19th and early 20th century. The dynamics and conflicts of that environment created interesting stories. So, he recreated those dynamics and conflicts in his future history and other stories.
3. The preachiness of his later stories stems in part from the techniques that he used in his early stories to establish and define the setting of his stories whether in the Chicago of the 22nd century, Lunar colonies or a generation starship. It had become part of his writing MO. It also stems from the fact that in his later career, he could write what he wanted, preach what amused him, not necessarily what he believed in and he could sell enough to land on the best seller lists more than occasionally.
