* Thesis: Cosmo-Localism - Basic features of an alternative economic order. By Ralph Horat. Thesis University
of St. Gallen, November 2019
URL =
Contents
Ecological crisis, growth imperatives and disruptive, system-immanent technological forces
The threat of ecological Armageddon
Drivers behind the growth momentum
Criticism of growth
Resolution levels of the growth analysis
Human needs
Explanation of growth dynamics with the supply-demand loop
Explaining the growth dynamic with the consumption-employment loop
Role of the credit system and money creation
Explanation of growth dynamics with the causal loop diagram
Disruptive effect of technological progress on today's social system
Near-zero marginal cost theory
Automation
Self-organised management of natural resource systems
Terminology and classification of goods
Terminology
Classification of goods
The tragedy of the commons
The tragedy of the commons and the free rider problem
State, market or commons
Commons - a third way beyond the market and the state
Initial question and assumptions
Benefits of cooperative action and challenges in the process of self-organisation
Successful practices of self-organisation
Challenges and limitations of the approach
Challenges in the 21st century
Limits of Ostrom's approach
Economic logics of action in the subsistence economy and capitalist market economy
Classification of reciprocal relationships
Reciprocal relationships in the subsistence economy
Conceptualisation
Reciprocity in production
Mutuality in exchange
Eco-villages as self-sufficient communities of the 21st century
Reciprocal relationships in the capitalist market economy
Terminology
Transition from a self-sufficient to a third-party supply company
Reciprocity in production
Mutuality in exchange
Objective value vs. subjective value
Alternative money and barter systems
A brief history of money
Today's monetary system
Terminology
Basic functions and properties of today's money
Money creation
Description of the current monetary system based on the comparative framework
Alternative monetary systems
Local/regional currencies
Cryptocurrency
Central bank digital currency (CBDC)
Exchange systems
Economic exchange ring
Time banks
Monetary support and reward systems
Food stamps as a state benefit
Amazon Coins as a platform-based voucher system
Outlook
Alternative forms of organisation
Alternative financing modalities
Crowdfunding
Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs)
Co-operatives
Employee cooperatives
Cooperative development organisations
Platform co-operatives
Social entrepreneurship as a transformative force
Comparison of alternative forms of organisation
Digital network production
Open culture movements
Open standards
Commons-based peer production
Institutions in CBPP
Decentralised high-tech infrastructure
Decentralised supply with renewable energies and P2P energy trading
Decentralised information production with 3D printing
Decentralised and urban food cultivation
Circular economy
Circular economy model
Circular economy at local level
Cosmo-localism
Paradigm shift
Cosmo-localism as a new understanding and experience of locality and universality
Tension between locality and universality
Cosmo-localism as a new experience of locality and universality
New understanding of the individual, property and labour
New understanding of the individual
New understanding of ownership
New understanding of work and value
Cosmo-local economy
Cosmo-local economic policy strategy
Cosmo-local production
Cosmo-local resource management system & logistics internet
Transregional sharing networks
Cosmo-localism from a business perspective
Comparison of a capitalist market economy vs. cosmo-localism
Outlook
Cosmo-localism as a model for development aid?
Reference to the development theory discourse
Cosmo-localism as an alternative development path?
Potential of cosmo-localism in affluent countries
Transition and conclusion