Sunday, July 29, 2012

An economic perspective

Buying
What you buy is what you assign as valuable. As long as there is demand for the product you buy, the manufacturer will produce it. So, think of all the implications before you buy i.e. the complete product life cycle from its creation to destruction. There are environmental (organic vs chemical farming, local vs global produce, biodegradable/reusable vs landfill/incinerator), health (fresh vs fast food), equal opportunity employment (gender, sexuality inequality), fair trade (child labor, minimum wage and sweat shop like inhumane work conditions) implications and many more. Vote with your dollars. This is one way to practice the principle of Interconnectedness.

Sharing
Most products you buy are best enjoyed when shared with friends and family. Think of sharing a meal, going to the movies, living with loved ones under the same roof etc. When experiences and products are shared, it enhances and enriches our life. This is one way to practice the principle of Infiniteness.

Selling
You are able to buy the products you like and share the products you buy with loved ones because of your own ability to sell in the market place. You may be selling your skills in accounting or software, farming or nursing or manufacturing etc to solve real-world problems and add value to the society. What you sell is what others buy, so try to create a virtuous cycle. This is one way to practice the principle of Uniqueness.