Economist Mark Anielski welcomes Peter Block onto his podcast to discuss initiatives that are looking to overcome the economics of isolation to create an alternative economy. From the Old Testament story of the end of slavery to the reconstruction of land after the Civil War in the U.S., Peter and Mark reflect on lessons from the past and how they are relevant now. In Cincinnati, the Economics of Compassion Initiative and Jubilee projects are showing what can be done today to shift the narrative and start living into a neighborly or indigenous economy. Listen:

In this podcast:

  • Initiatives changing the economics of isolation (7-8:20)
  • Why this economy isn’t working (9:30-10:30)
  • What is an indigenous economy (10:30-11:40)
  • The significance of Jubilee (13:00-14:00)
  • Relationships are foundational (26:50-29:00)

Quotes from Peter Block:

“If you are not a dissatisfied customer, there is no consumer economy. The movement towards a communal economy is to let the consumer economy take a nap. Then you can decide that what I have is enough. And if that is true, then I am enough.”

“Why is this economy not working for us all? Because we can’t imagine not being consumers. I can’t imagine being a citizen, I can’t imagine being enough. All the dominant language about the knowledge economy is really about convenience and a virtual set of relationships”

“In an indigenous economy I don’t care about scale, I don’t care about speed. I like small.”

Image: Photo by Francesco Gallarotti on Unsplash