| Associative Economics |
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Associative Economics describes an evolutionary perspective on humanity's journey from feudally-structured agrarian local economies, through national state-centered market economies, to a situation in which humanity finds itself in one economy, which is a global affair. It represents a transition from a competitive mode of economic life to one in which the interests and productive capacities of others are seen as integral to overall economic health. This approach is described lick here To sby the Associative Economics Institute {Link without Title} as a 'Path from Competion to Association'. Key to the associative approach is an emphasis on accounting as a medium of economic consciousness and the need to meet in order to form judgements in economic life. THE ASSOCIATIVE ECONOMICS INSTITUTE The Associative Economics Institute {Link without Title} is responsible for a Quality Guarantee Mark in associative economics. The Quality Guarantee Mark exists to promote an associative approach to modern economic life. Its aim is to raise awareness of the economics not only of one's own enterprise but also of the wider environment in which it is embedded. Association in this sense enhances the functioning and reputation of any enterprise using the Mark at the same time as it furthers an associative approach to economic life more generally. Any enterprise can apply for the Mark, whether its activity is commercial, industrial, agricultural, governmental cultural, humanitarian or financial, and regardless of its size, locality and domain of operation. (Those responsible for such enterprises are known as entrepreneurs.) It can be obtained by meeting the following four criteria: ::1. Competence Human beings, not market forces, as the true agents of economic development The management of the Enterprise is in the hands of a person or persons – hereinafter "the Entrepreneur" or "Entrepreneurs" – striving to understand associative economics in a manner recognised by the Associative Economics Association. ::2. Structure Appropriate legal, financial, and management frameworks The structure of the Enterprise is such that its existence as a legal person, the management of its activities, and the financing of its means of production are distinguished from each other in a manner recognised by the Association so that no one element has undue power over the other two. In particular: :::1. The aim and existence of the Enterprise are independent of both the providers of the finance for its means of production and of the views and opinions of its management. :::2. The financing of the means of production of the Enterprise is designed to guarantee its long term independence. :::3. The management of the Enterprise functions in a transparent manner and maintains a clear record of decisions taken. ::3. Accounting Transparent and open books as common language and key to responsible change :::1. The accounting of the Enterprise is open and transparent both internally and externally. :::2. Based on double-entry bookkeeping, it is structured in terms of a universal framework defined by the Association so as to provide a common financial language for all Enterprises. :::3. Each Entrepreneur establishes a budget and maintains the bookkeeping and year-end forecasting for the Enterprise (or the part of the Enterprise) that he represents. :::4. In the event of an Enterprise having more than one Entrepreneur, the Entrepreneurs together establish a budget and maintain the bookkeeping and year-end forecasts for their Enterprise as a whole. :::5. In the same way, a budget is established and the bookkeeping and year-end forecasting maintained for each group of Enterprises that meets (see below). ::4. Meeting Associative rather than competitive ways of working :::1. Independently of any trading or financial relationships, the Entrepreneur of an Enterprise and the Entrepreneurs of at least two other Enterprises hold a meeting of constant composition and on regular basis at a frequency agreed with the Association – hereinafter "the Meeting". The Meeting will be a real one; that is, the Entrepreneurs must be in the same room. :::2. The purpose of the Meeting is for the Entrepreneurs to share and comment on the economic situation of their respective Enterprises through the medium of budgets, management accounts, and year-end forecasts, as a basis for building a shared picture of their own and each others’ situations both individually and together. :::3. The year-end is the occasion of a similar Meeting, at which the aims and budgetary options of the Enterprises for the following year are likewise considered and made clear. THE CENTRE FOR ASSOCIATIVE ECONOMICS Established in 2001, the Centre provides a physical base for a range of activities that are both conceptual and practical in scope. Coordinated by Dr. Christopher Houghton Budd {Link without Title} , it provides a focus in the English-speaking world for a worldwide collaboration by a growing number of people. ASSOCIATIVE ECONOMICS MONTHLY Jointly edited by Christopher Houghton Budd and Arthur Edwards, Associative Economics Monthly {Link without Title} brings an associative focus to current events. It offers a range of material that aims to contribute to the building of an associative perspective on modern economic life. Regular features include: :LEAD ARTICLE - introduces the theme of the issue. :A TO Z OF ECONOMICS - building a glossary of economic terms with an associative meaning. :THE VIEW FROM RARE ALBION - a regular column written by Christopher Houghton Budd, derived from his book of the same name. :SIGNS OF THE TIMES - gleaned from a range of sources, events are given a context that touch on the deeper nature of modern economic life. :FEATURE - offering in-depth treatment of the theme. In 2006, this will be given over to Rudolf Steiner to mark the centenary of his seminal essays in the social sciences. :COMMENT - based on an on-going survey of economic events, these items draw attention to events that point to the emergence - whether explicit or implicit - of an associative approach to economic life. :ACCOUNTANT'S CORNER - a regular column touching on key aspects of modern accounting from an associative perspective. EXTERNAL LINKS
LITERATURE A Human Response to Globalisation Beyond the Market Economics Freeing the Circling Stars Of Wheat and Gold Prelude in Economics Rare Albion Rudolf Steiner, Economist The Metamorphosis of Capitalism The Right On Corporation All are available from The Centre for Associative Economics {Link without Title} |