FairShares Commons
Part 1 - Rebuild - Einstein and Picasso
The idea of a FairShares Commons Company emerged from the work of Graham Boyd and Jack Reardon, and the consultancy company Evolutesix. Evolutesix was an early adopter of the FairShares Model (in 2016), and through 2018/19 built a network of organisational and personal coaches who further developed Graham Boyd's concept of a 'free company' (i.e. free from the subjugation that occurs in a capital market where a company is seen as property to be bought and sold).
These pages were created - initially - by Prof Rory Ridley-Duff, whilst reading 'Rebuild: The Economy, Leadership and You', published by Evolutesix in early 2021. This one of the key source materials for the book 'The Roads to New Co-operativism' and these notes are now being integrated into the FairShares Wiki by members of the FairShares Association.
Preface
This sets out why the authors between there has never been a better time for a generative economy (p. xii). Described as a 'how-to' manual, it tracks their changed thinking from 2015 - 2020, particularly the realisation that the climate crisis on its own will not catalyse the transformative action at a fundamental level needed to make business an 'intrinsic force for good'. After a section about Graham's upbringing in South Africa (and working in across Europe and Asia), Graham funnels in on the loss of Arctic ice, and the need to understanding 'the anchors holding the [capitalist] system stable it is dysfunctionality' (p. xv). In place of this dysfunction, Graham describes elements of the FairShares Commons - the subject of the book - and the process of building a network of people interested in developing the ideas, and arriving at the Rethinking Economics conference at Greenwich University.
Jack's upbringing starts with memories of his grandfather's view of improving environmental management. Tracking both depression and joy (much as Graham did), we arrive at turning defeat 'inside out' and achieving success. Jack's mindset became set after a rejection of a paper pointing out flaws in neoclassical economics, particularly in relation to the allocation of resources in a market economy. He created a new journal - the International Journal of Pluralism and Economics Education - which set him on a path towards ideas that now manifest in his work on FairShares Commons Companies (p. xvii). He redirected his efforts to 'a different valley on a completely different track'. Jack arrived (and spoke at) the Rethinking Economics conference attended by Graham.
Bringing their stories together, they found themselves sharing their ideas over a meal and enjoyed the 'generative conflict' that (eventually) produced the book, 'breaking free of the old paradigms'. Readers are asked to regard the book as a 'circle' - starting and finishing anywhere. They assume a global crisis, and that the crisis needs addressing, that the readers are people who are passionate about having greater impact. There is a positive attitude to business, as the institution with the power to resolve global challenges (more than any other social institution). Profit is used in a wider sense, 'not just financial profit' (p. xx). Investors are seen as allies in the project to address climate change.
Reasons for hope: This chapter sets out both issues that are challenging at the current time, and also reasons for hope.
Stories, lenses and maps: This chapter lays out basic concepts and language (stories, lenses and maps) to help read the book.
Part 2: Economy
Part 2 of the book considers how we come to 'know' an economy, its limitations, potentials and opportunities. Beginning with an exploration of the meaning-making stories we use to understanding economics, then the company, the authors gradually build up a new meaning-making narrative based on free companies and the concept of a FairShares Commons.
How do we know our economy?: This chapter explores the economy as we currently know it.
The company as property: This chapter sets out the limitations of the current way we regard companies and property to be bought and sold.
The economy of the free: This chapter sets out 'what might be' - an imagining that can grow into an aspiration.
A general theory of economies and organisations: this chapter contrasts significant weakenesses in neo-classical with a speculative hopeful view of a pluralist and integrated economy.
