Results from Barcelona 2010 on the topic solidarity economy, cooperatives and social business

Solidarity economy, Cooperatives and Social Business

The following are the results of the GAP at the Degrowth Conference 2010 in Barcelona that are particularly relevant for this working group

The document first presents a summary, including links to other working groups (in red & capital), and then the complete results of those Barcelona working groups with some relations the current one

Summary

Limit the size of the company for maintaining the rationality of satisfaction of local needs (HUMAN NATURE). Change institutions to abolish the profit dividends and profits of distant shareholders that don’t take part of the activity (MONEY-result of dissapearance of financial markets and questioning of global currencies).

The social economy would be driven by people directly engaged on the labour force of economic and social activities and not only as investors (DEMOCRACY).

Working Groups from 2010 GAP in Barcelona with some connections:

Social economy, changing the corporation status

Proposals:

• Limit the size of the company for maintaining the rationality of satisfaction of local needs

• Change institutions to abolish the profit dividends and profits of distant shareholders that don’t take part of the activity. The social economy would be driven by people directly engaged on the labour force of economic and social activities and not only as investors

Research questions:

• Can we think in a profit maximization enterprise in a de-growth society?

• How can we link producer and consumer cooperatives to strengthen the non-profit rationality?

Property rights

Non-regulation of resources is not a solution. Private property needs to be restricted. This implies further discussion on options and alternatives to private property and its regulation.

In this regard, there is a need to

• Distinguish between manufactured and natural resources.

• Identify indicators to determine the maximum level of property

Degrowth is about halting the commodification of nature. The term private property comprises various aspects. In terms of degrowth, some of these ambits could still remain in the context of private property and these should be defined.

Degrowing in a just way demands democratic management of natural resources (including our own bodies) so the resources should not be commodified.

• Global commons: It is necessary to design jurisdiction according to each global common

• Local commons: It is essential to recognize and integrate communal property rights under national law.

Trade degrowth

Proposals:

• Ecological and social impacts of trade have to be measured with biophysical and social indicators, and further have to be integrated in trade policies and agreements.

• There is a need for a new democratic global trade organization that moves away from “free trade” and growth as their fundamental basis, and towards social and environmental sustainability.

• Food issues should be given priority to improve food security by working towards food sovereignty and productive autonomy.

• Power relations have to be reduced among others by absolute foreign debt cancellations.

Research questions:

• How can ecological and social impacts of trade be measured with biophysical and human indicators?

• How can the problem of scale adequately be addressed with various mechanisms?