How Post-Capitalism can save future generations?
During the Greek economic crisis, no solution seemed to work, high levels of unemployment, half of Greek households relied on pension income since one out of five Greeks were 65 or older while the austerity measures forced the government to cut spending and increase taxes. The markets were blocked, people emptied their bank accounts and the picture of the future was blurry.
But if the world we live in, is a product of the way we think, what is wrong with our mindset and what causes these economic troubles? Where do we find the solutions that will help us escape?
Even though the crisis was influencing our lives the history shows that wherever there are unfulfilled social needs and under-utilised social resources, such as high levels of unemployment, the potential exists to stimulate economic activity, enhance human welfare and promote resilience and sustainable entrepreneurship. We just need to find the way.
The two economic models, Mercantilism and Capitalism.
“Mercantilism was an economic system that took place between 16th century to 18th century, and it was mainly built around exports and trade. The concept is based on the increase of wealth by maximising exports and minimising imports. The ultimate goal is to ensure that the country was a net-exporter so to secure the wealth. That seems to be an unfair game where none of the two, exporter — importer can agree on a both sided beneficial economic agreement.”
“Capitalism system appeared during the 17th Century, where the merchants were a link between the consumer and producer. However, gradually, they began to dominate the latter, first by placing orders and paying in advance, then by supplying the raw materials, and paying a wage for the work done in producing finished goods.”
In other words, capitalism is the system that allows rich people to invest their money in projects and make even more money. It allows anybody who is rich enough to do this and it leads to a small upper class of people having the most wealth and the growth of large corporations.
Capitalism + Technology = Post-capitalism
But what really happens when technology merges with economy? The inevitable contribution of technology and information into our lives has created a new route out of it, to a more dynamic economic system which includes the idea of capitalism. At the same time, it shares it globally and it distributes their values to a broader group of stakeholders. This is the start of post capitalism.
Paul Mason mentions,
“Capitalism is a complex, adaptive system which has reached the limits of its capacity to adapt, once capitalism can no longer adapt to technological change, post capitalism becomes necessary.”
In his new book Post capitalism: A Guide to our Future, shapes the image of the new world occupied by “educated and connected human beings” where he sets outs the idea using some examples of the new era explaining why we are on the edge of post-capitalism.
He also reports that after two centuries of capitalism dominated in the Western world, this economic system is saturated: inequality among nations and people is growing, climate change is accelerating, and nations are full with bad demographics, debt loads and angry voters. He was describing something that was very close to what happened to the Greek economy and his views are inspiring some optimism for the Greek markets.
Brixton pound: “The Brixton Pound (B£) is a local currency that sticks to Brixton. It’s a parallel currency, working alongside (not replacing) sterling pounds, for use by independent local shops and traders. The B£ gives local traders and customers the chance to get together to support each other and maintain the diversity of the high street and strengthen pride in Brixton, by shaping a new economy which meets their needs.”
The Utrecht Case: “The Dutch city of Utrecht recently launched an experiment with the basic income by offering all citizens an unconditional sum to help cover living costs. After a recent study in 18 European countries concluded that generous welfare benefits make people more willing to work, rather than less. Utrecht launched the limited programme in the hope that it would help alleviate poverty and social exclusion.”
The Istanbul Case: “Mason uses the example of the Gezi Park protests in Istanbul in 2013 to demonstrate how when people come together around a uniting idea, sale-for-profit goes out of the window, while sharing and cooperation come first.”
These are some cases in order to think outside the box, to be more ecologically civilised and work sustainably and collaboratively towards a better system that will meet our needs without destroying our home.We need to approach this challenge from different perceptions and use different disciplines in order to study every aspect and finally to acquire the equal right to the enjoyment of natural wealth.
At the same time, many great thinkers of our age, project different aspects on the canvas of post capitalism, talking about the environmental issues and the doughnut economics, the “private sufficiency, public luxury” and the ecological civilisation.
“But if our choice comes down to this. Do we stop life to allow capitalism to continue, or stop capitalism to allow life to continue?”
Sources:
< https://www.investopedia.com/articles/economics/08/economic-thought.asp>
< http://www.solfed.org.uk/a-s-history/unit-1-the-origins-of-capitalism>
<https://www.huckmag.com/perspectives/five-postcapitalist-projects-offer-blueprint-new-world/>
<https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/apr/25/capitalism-economic-system-survival-earth>
