I ask that you look beyond the clever play on words and consider the depth and magnitude of what I am suggesting. Some time ago, I remember reading about how our economy shifted from one that primarily produces goods, to a services-based economy. The world runs on economic indicators measured by any number of metrics: GDP, unemployment level, exports, imports, and a myriad of others. These are measures of economic performance that ultimately relate to goods and services. Economics is the currency that society runs by and is enamored with. An exception might be the country of Bhutan which adopted Gross National Happiness or GNP as a measure over GDP. There are probably populations and societies among indigenous and other peoples that are more enlightened or less enslaved by money. But in the context of global economic indicators, goods and services are completely enmeshed in how society functions. The production and exchange of goods and services, whether structured under capitalism, socialism, communism, or some other “ism”, are structures of commerce that govern our society and culture. Commerce may be defined as “the activity of buying and selling” but it is also defined as “social dealings between people.”
Why do we work? For some, the enjoyment of work is undoubtedly the answer but for most, it is to earn a living so there is money to buy goods and services. It’s very materialistic, which is not surprising. How else are you going to acquire more “stuff”? Both our culture and society are highly materialistic. In many ways, commerce is driven by the exchange of goods and services.
What would it mean to move from goods and services to good and service?
This antimaterialistic version of society would be based not on materialism but on spiritualism. It would include idealism insofar as good, truth, and beauty are idealistic aspirations that, I believe, all humans share. We can argue and debate about what “good” is, but I’ll offer a simplification. Anything that reduces human suffering is good. Anything that enhances wellbeing is good. Anything that elevates humanity is good.
Where does service fit in? To my way of thinking, service involves contributing to the welfare and benefit of others. That is the essence of service—to expend effort or resources in helping others. This isn’t restricted to fellow humans. It could be for the benefit of animals, plants, endangered species, the planet writ large. It could be by volunteering or supporting some worthwhile cause or organization with a mission to help make our world better.
Imagine what an economy driven by good and service might look like? How might humanity grow and develop unshackled by materialistic drivers. How might basic human needs for food and shelter, clean water and sanitation be met? How might the collective human experience be elevated when all have these needs met?
I submit it would be a golden age for humanity.
In this time of the great shift in consciousness, in this time of ongoing spiritual poverty, let us work together to create a new economy, a new commerce structured by improving the exchange of good and service to one another. Old paradigms and structures are collapsing. What will replace them? A new Renaissance structured around the exchange of good and service can replace the currency of the present, structured around the exchange of goods and services. I believe the restructuring of human commerce around the provision and maximization of good and service can elevate all of humankind to enjoy new levels of creativity, non-material wealth, and enhanced wellbeing. That is what I am proposing. Please join me…
Thank you for your comment, Aldo!
In response to your statement, “A question we must ask ourselves is whether and how, through our daily work, we try to develop an economy with a human face.”–An economy based on good and service would have a human face.
Infinite blessings,
Victor
Committing to an economy with a human face requires a widespread leap in quality. The current world, characterized by intense and rapid technological evolution, by the spread of the use of Artificial Intelligence, robotics and social media, often without adequate knowledge of the implications and effective regulation, poses significant social, economic and environmental problems. and ethical, not always addressed and analyzed fully.
We need to change the prevailing development model which is based on the consideration of “economic rationality”, and therefore the pursuit of one’s personal interest, as the exclusive guiding element of people’s actions. The same is required at the corporate, academic, political and international institution levels.
As I have said several times, it is we who adhere to our daily work who must make the difference, pursuing the well-being of everyone together with our personal interest. A question we must ask ourselves is whether and how, through our daily work, we try to develop an economy with a human face.