An interesting article via Alternet on successful economic alternatives to capitalism: "Capitalism rests ON A FOUNDATION OF MYTHS, THE FIRST OF WHICH IS THAT THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE. What I did not appreciate until a recent trip to Bologna [Italy], is that major components of the entire economy are organized as co-ops. Even though [the region of] Emilia Romagna [of which Bologna is its capital] has a “leftist” history, co-ops did not arise as an “anti-capitalist” phenomenon. Many of the largest and most successful co-ops trace their origins back to the 19th century. Understanding that markets—a place where buyers and sellers meet—were in existence for thousands of years before capitalism privatized ownership of the means of production, co-ops offer a different way of organizing economic activity. Production co-ops empower workers to create products and services. The manufacturers of Emilia Romagna make industrial machines, ceramic tile and many other products. Many co-ops contract with the government to provide various services. While this is similar to “outsourcing” as we would describe it in the US, the result is very different because the intent is not to drive down the wages, benefits and working conditions of those doing the work. " alternet.org/economy/how-successful-cooperative-economic-models-can-work-wonderfully-somewhere-else
Posted on: Sun, 28 Jul 2013 18:59:59 +0000
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