The false assumption of scarcity
Posted: August 23, 2011 Filed under: Scarcity | Tags: Abundance, Economy, Gratitude, Insight Leave a commentWhat if there is enough for everyone?
We seem to be wired to make the assumption of scarcity – that there is not enough for everyone, so we have to make sure that we get our share. The primitive part of our brain experiences some level of fear and we clench. Life becomes a game of musical chairs – don’t let go of the seat you’ve got until you’re sure that the next one is open and you’re sure that you can beat Aunt Sally to it.
What if life is less like musical chairs and more like the rest of the party?
There are lots of chairs and lots of people. True, the supply of chairs is finite – and the number of chairs may be less than the number of guests at the party. But when we’re not worried about being able to find a chair, there are always enough to go around because at any given moment some of the party guests don’t want to sit. They’re at the buffet, standing to talk, dancing or something else. Everyone relaxes and no one worries about chairs.
In a down economy, do we isolate or build community?
Posted: February 13, 2009 Filed under: Thriving in a Down Economy, World View | Tags: Community, Economy, Global, World Leave a commentThis is the central question for all of us in the next few months.
We face this choice as communities and nations.
Each year the World Economic Forum brings together business, political and other leaders for a late January conference in Davos, Switzerland. The 2009 forum’s website has webcasts of the various sessions which can be downloaded. More about the forum in another post in which I’ll share some of the sessions I found particularly interesting.
One of the themes which emerged from the Forum this year is concern that in the face of the global downturn there will be a rise of economic nationalism and protectionism. The evidence that free trade grows the global economy is now pretty clear. While there may be winners and losers for a period of time, the expansion of the global economy provides opportunities for all parts of the world to improve the standard of living of their people. This has been called the virtuous cycle. Expansion in ever widening circles as we open ourselves to the greater interdependence of a global economy.
It follows then, that when free trade is restricted, global growth slows making it harder and harder for any part of the world to enjoy a better life. This vicious cycle spirals inward in ever decreasing circles of less and less for everyone.
Rick Gage 