The Talking Economics Bulletin
The new year sees a new name for what began life as Talking Economics
Monthly (and before I became
involved was a continuation of e2, before that New Economy and
originally going back 25 years, the
newsletter of the Land and Capital Exchange). The thought now is to
headline more clearly the associative
understanding of economic life that we seek to promote, and to invite a
wider participation in the
development of associative economics as a paradigm. Furthermore,
explicit reference is made to Rudolf
Steiner’s contribution to economics: although he is widely known as an
educationalist, his economic
insights remain, for the most part, unknown, especially among English
speaking people, who bear so much
responsibility for the kind of thinking about economics that is now
prevalent across the world. The third
change is one of emphasis. We offer what we feel to be examples of an
associative approach to
economics, as they appear in the world but not necessarily by that name.
Many today – academics, financiers, politicians and concerned citizens –
are attempting to move economic
life away from its obsession with competition towards a more inclusive
way of doing business. By engaging
in contemporary questions with specific reference to Rudolf Steiner’s
insights, we feel we can usefully
contribute to an unfolding of economic life, which seeks not to champion
one person but to create
connections where they are appropriate and thereby to promote an
economics which serves humanity
better than hitherto. Our ‘role model’ is not a glossy collection of
sound bites, but an informative
compendium that tracks the appearance of associative economics more in
the manner of Britain’s Guardian
Weekly. With the use of illustrative visuals, we are aiming to inform
the reader and to improve the
presentational quality of the journal (albeit with limited resources).
We welcome you to 2006 and hope you
will appreciate – and contribute to – our monthly offerings.
With best wishes on behalf of Talking Economics,
Arthur Edwards
1) Extracted from Associative Economics Monthly Jan 06, Editorial
2) Events
3) Counterfactual Economics - the untold history following Versailles
1) Extracted from Associative Economics Monthly Jan 06, Editorial
Renamed as Associative Economics Monthly, this publication has two main
aims. Firstly, to provide a focus
for those who seek to establish economic life on an associative basis,
namely, as an approach distinct from
‘competitive’ or ‘statist’ economics. Secondly, to offer a vehicle for
furthering public understanding of what
this means.This year, each issue will have a particular theme and three
main elements: a lead article
providing a context in today’s world for the overall idea being
considered, a feature article highlighting Rudolf
Steiner’s contribution to economics, and an example of “what associative
economics means to me.” For the
latter, we would like to invite comments from our readers and will also
be interviewing different people from
around the world who work associatively. This month’s edition is about
making associative economics
explicit. Christopher Houghton Budd describes different uses of the term
in order to illustrate the diverse
ways in which people are sensing the need to think ‘outside the box’.
Or, in the image popular among
economists, to look at the elephant from all sides because no one person
can have the answer. The feature
comprises a selection of short citations, chosen from Rudolf Steiner’s
writings on economics, which offer
windows onto ideas central to his approach. The third article - What is
an association? by Ezrah Bakker,
argues that association does not refer in the first instance to a legal
or organisational form, but to the
sharing of information between economic actors that can lead to clear
insights and policies for the conduct
of an economic life that includes all. Our regular features, Rare
Albion, Signs of the Times and Accountant’s
Corner continue their on-going commentary.
2) Events
IN LONDON:
The Metamorphosis of Capitalism - An introductory course in associative
economics. Fridays, 2 - 5 pm,
booking only (Venue and dates below)
3x3x3 - An opportunity to study Rudolf Steiner's Economics Course (Come
occasionally or sign for the
whole course) Fridays, 7.15 - 9.15 pm (Venue and dates below)
Rudolf Steiner House, 35 Park Road, NW1 6XT London
20 Jan, 17 Feb, 10 Mar 2006
28 Apr, 19 May, 9 Jun 2006
IN STROUD, UK:
Talking Economics Evenings - Star Anise Arts Café, Stroud, UK
Mondays 7-9pm
Debt and Human Development - 6 Feb
Whither Fair Trade? - 6 Mar
The Trial of Taxation. - 3 Apr
Time for a World Currency? - 8 May
For details of above events: info@talkingeconomics.com 01452 810764
IN DORNACH, CH:
Events at the Goetheanum, Dornach, Basel, Switzerland, January – June
2006:
Lectures: Thursdays: 8.00-9.30pm, Goetheanum
From I to We: From narrow egoism to enlarged egoism - 19 January
Embodying change: The role of corporations - 23 February
Too much loan money… Understanding the financial markets - 16 March
Ethical financialism: Modern finance as a mirror of ourselves - 11 May
Rudolf Steiner’s True Price: The key to transforming modern economic
life - 1 June
Beyond competition: The prospects for associative economics today - 29
June
Workshops: Fridays: 9.00–12.00 am, Conference Room, Youth Section House
20th January, 24th February, 17th March,12th May, 2nd June, 30th June
2006
For further details contact: Email: economics@goetheanum.org / Tel:
Christopher Houghton Budd (0044
1227 738207) / Jesse Osmer 061 706 4391
IN TORONTO, CANADA
New Ground - A fresh look at the economics of farming, Rudolf Steiner
Center
10-12 February, 2006 - Toronto Waldorf School, Thornhill, Toronto
Themes: Husbanding the land / Valuing the farmer. The farmer between
land and credit. Towards true prices.
Farming in an associative economy - groundwork for social renewal. In
the field with consumers, educators, activists and farmers
A conference sponsored by the Society for Biodynamic Farming and
Gardening in Ontario. Details from:
www.biodynamics.on.ca/events.htm
3) Counterfactual Economics - the untold history following Versailles
Extracted from Associative Economics Monthly Jan 06, Sign of The Times
column
Supposing the 1919 Treaty of Versailles had given economic life an
associative basis, how would subsequent history have unfolded, what
roads not taken remain to be explored?
Imagine we are standing at the dawn of the 20th century. Economic life
has become global, closed and
single. The old ‘wealth of nations’ narrative with its focus on
competing state-led economies has become anachronistic. Indeed such
thinking will lead to war. Economic relationships needs to be put on a
new basis, one that is commensurate with humanity’s needs yet freed from
national interests. Now is the time to realise that diverse values can
partake of one economy. We need the background image of a choir of
nations so that the peoples of the world can see their differences as
‘comparative advantages’, enabling each to serve humanity in its own
way. The resources of humanity need to be understood as a common store
not a national one, and therefore allocated on a purely economic,
non-political basis. Of course this will mean consigning the imperial
story to history in favour of partnership and global commonwealth.
Now is not the time to think in dualisms: market / state; East / West;
Christianity / Islam; self-interest /
altruism; capitalism / communism. That will lead to a world with no
middle, in which the human being cannot breathe. Instead, as even Adam
Smith well-recognised, we need to include one another in our thinking.
And this way of thinking needs to inform the very structure of economic
life from now on. Otherwise we will enter into a distorted version of
global economy in which global institutions, while appropriate, will
become the fiefdoms of narrow interests rather than rendezvous points
for humanity’s common enterprise. We can see coming the need for trade,
money flows and capital allocation to be administered on a worldwide
basis, but on whose terms and for whose benefit? Now is the time to give
forethought to how such things can be organised in a spirit of true
global partnership. But do we have the will? Are we so minded?
--
www.talkingeconomics.com
The associative approach to economics is based on the idea that economic
life is the shared responsibility
of every human being. Talking Economics is
about making this responsibility conscious and finding ways to give it
effect.
--
www.talkingeconomics.co.uk
The Centre for Associative Economics, Forge House, The Green, Chartham,
Canterbury, CT4 7JW, 01227 738207