In their book, Spontaeous Evolution: Our Positive Future , Bruce Lipton Ph.D and Steve Bhaerman deal head on with the problems of the current economic paradigm. An economy based on leverage, debt and personal gain is neither economically nor ecologically sustainable, as the current recession indicates.
What both writers propose is an alternative economic paradigm that promotes communal and environmental sustainability by taking into consideration three strategies - alternative currencies, local self-sufficiency and growing happiness.
Alternative Currencies
A major problem emerging from the economic crisis is the devaluation of money, most aptly represented by the authors' reference to a quotation from David Korten's book, Agenda for a New Economy ( San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler, 2009). Here, Korten describes the current financial system as a "money game in which the players use money to make money for people who have money, without producing anything of value."
It is this separation of money from real wealth, real labor and real economy (distribution of services and goods) that forms the crux of the economic crisis - man alienated from the natural economy by a form of virtual money.
The creation of alternative currencies would provide a cure simply by restoring the connection between money and real wealth and real value. An example is the yin currency developed by Belgian economist Bernard Lietaer. This is a currency defined by agreement within a community for needed services provided by willing participants.
In Japan, yin currency comes in the form of "caring relationship tickets" which can "pay" for elderly care not covered by national health insurance. The provider receives payment in terms of ticket credits which he can draw on when he himself reaches his senior years and requires similar services.
Local Self-Sufficiency
What is the best way to stimulate the local economy? Research shows definitely that nothing is better than purchasing local services. One study based in San Francisco shows that just shifting 10% of retail money from the big chains to local merchants would increase economic output in the local community by $192 million, produce $72 million in new income for workers and generate more than $15 million in new retail activity.
A second study based in Austin, Texas shows that a community can generate a $10 million boon to the local economy if each household shifts $100 of holiday spending to the local markets.
The effect is more than cumulative: large chains spend their profits elsewhere, but local markets recirculate their profits by hiring local services and buying from local stores. Moreover, locally produced products require less fuel for transportation, a benefit that replicates its value in both community and environment.
Growing Happiness
How does one grow happiness? Simply by defining growth not only in terms of renewable wealth but also in terms of intangibles like happiness. Since 1970, the Buddhist Kingdom of Bhutan has used the GNH - Gross National Happiness - as the true measure of wealth.
More recently, President Sarkozy announced the adoption of GNH as part of France's measure of material success.
According to Lipton and Bhaerman, GNH " takes into account not only the flow of money but also access to health care, free time with family, conservation of natural resources and other non-economic factors." The adoption of GNH can sharpen a country's focus on communal sustainability.
Placing the indices of well-being, peace and communal responsibility within the definition of economics would restore the balance between money and real wealth. It would also restore the word "economics" (which now refers mainly to monetary profit) to its original Greek root "oikos," which means natural economy and management of matters and materials within a household.
In short, the current world situation could benefit from a global lesson in "home economics."
Sources:
- Bruce Lipton PH.D and Steve Bhaerman,Spontaeous Evolution: Our Positive Future,(Carlsbad, CA:Hay House Inc.,2009), 309.
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