Towards a common good economy?
By Julie Marangé, Social Platform Intern.
On 24 September we participated in a roundtable with our member Volonteurope. Our key speaker, Diego Isabel La Moneda, introduced the concept of the ecocomy for the common good. The presentation was followed by a panel debate and discussions with the audience. The panellists were Mark Cumming (Director of Comhlamh), Saamah Abdallah (Programme Manager of the New Economic Foundation) and Pierre Baussand (Director of Social Platform).
What is a common good economy?
In a world dominated by all-powerful corporations, capitalism and money-oriented behaviours, the utopia of a common good economy presents itself as an alternative. Since the economic crisis of 2008, the question of whether our capitalist system is fit for purpose is gaining weight.
From Aristotle to Spinoza, key thinkers have highlighted the need for individuals to cooperate for their own sake and happiness. In our contemporary era the goal is money, while the strategy is competition. Success indicators are Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the balance sheet. An alternative scheme would be to set the common good – defined by Diego Isabel de La Moneda as the conditions for every human being to flourish, both as individuals and within communities – as a goal, and cooperation as a strategy. In a nutshell, a common good economy aims at promoting the common good through economic tools.
Why does it matter?
For the last 50-60 years, life expectancy has grown, and economic growth increased. Our standards of living have never been better. Yet, success and happiness have been and are still understood in terms of our financial situation. But money is no longer enough. We always need more: this is human nature.
Our system is paralysed in the past. It does not take into consideration the new set of needs and values from the postmodernist wave, the protection of the environment being an example. A common good economy, based on human dignity, ecological sustainability and promoted by organisation, government and individuals themselves would reflect these fresh requirements.
Criticism
The idea – sometimes accused of being communist – has widely been a bone of contention. But being against capitalism does not mean being communist. The common good economy has also been said to be too idealistic, if not impossible. Pierre Baussand also pointed out the issue of implementing the values we defend, giving the United Nations as an example. How can valued be translated into laws? There can be no shadow of a doubt that we are still far away from a common good economy, there is still a long way to go. But we now need to set the wheels in motion if we want to move towards a brighter future.
