Editorial
Taking further the theme begun in two previous issues, we now turn from an axiomatic discussion towards concrete expression. Our view is that, notwithstanding its identification with Rudolf Steiner, the real value and potential of associative economics is as a description of the world beyond positivism. In this issue the range of authors and topics is meant to illustrate this important theme because it is the overcoming of positivism that is the essential problem.
We lead therefore with ideas from two Harvard professors, Michael Porter and Mark Kramer, ideas which one is not used to hearing in business circles. As such, Harvard's New Gospel?, is something of a bellwether.
As this month's Sign of our Times, we have chosen Matthew Taylor's eulogy to Daniel Bell, a key element of which is Bell's threefold social analysis.
In Goodbye Leviathan, Christopher Houghton Budd points to the need to prevent 'the propensity to divide' in order to become awake, from becoming socially divisive. His thesis is that if we can do this we will discover true pricing; the converse of which is also true.
In E = F + R, Daniel Osmer highlights how the path from today's predominantly self-interested economic life to an empathetic consideration of all mankind relies on the social tool of money, especially on accounting when seen from an associative point of view.
The AE Exchange pages, which give prominence to the work of Gary Lamb in the US, are followed by Accounting Corner, which suggests that the differentiation between for- and not-for-profits is An Unreal Distinction.
