THE ‘IN-BETWEEN’ OF MODERN ECONOMY

from competition to complementarity

Abstract

The imperative to grow is essential to all modern societies; to maintain their welfare infrastructures the economy of modern societies is expected to increase at a steady pace annually. Consumerism –a steadily growing material consumption which does not necessarily contribute to increased health or happiness –can be seen as a socio-cultural development influencing the ecological balance of the earth. The ethical values we treasure most within our personal lives, such as trust, honesty, respect, empathy and cooperation, are very different from the basic values of the free market-economy which are based on the idea of maximizing self-interest and competition. Organizational ethical reporting should measure moral, cultural, social and environmental performances, thus doing justice to the double imperative of humanizing and naturalizing the economy. The success of such ethical measurements is essential for a process of transformation of our societies to begin.