Time for new perspective on economic development

By Dean Billy

When I was younger, I tried to make a living by selling smoked salmon. I soon discovered that I couldn't live on my net income. Okay. Sorry. I'm not seeking a theoretical foundation for indigenous enterprise in the post-modern world. I'm not even looking at commerce and its role in the narrative history of human life. I just want to examine a few of the issues surrounding economic development.

It's hard to discuss the specifics of a broad topic like this in only 700 words or less. In fact, I've wasted two paragraphs already with nary an enlightening thought or inkling of insight to offer. It's a good thing I'm not getting paid to write this or is it?

What are the human factors surrounding economic development? Finding out what those factors are means much more than hitting upon a one sentence formulation such as "We need a ski resort to sustain Lillooet!" All too often, we learn the answer to some problem without really understanding the problem. The right answer seems to save us the trouble of thinking. Richness of alternatives can be intellectually confusing, especially if you have been accustomed to receiving the authorized answers. Confusion, doubt and lack of understanding should be seen as incentives to learning, for they can stimulate us to clarity, inquiry and knowledge.

People need to exercise their judgment when considering economic development. They have to clarify their values and also evaluate them because to evaluate something is to advocate the values one applies. And human beings are nothing if not judgmental.

The importance of economic development lies not in the accounting or the daily bank deposits but in the fruits of a full, responsible and purposeful life. One way of reaching an understanding is to not look at what economic development is, but what it can do.

Much of human behaviour can be seen as problem solving. Whether it's "getting ahead" or "looking out for Number One," people are constantly trying to solve the mundane problems of survival in their own terms. The root of many of the problems can be found in the relationship between people and their natural and social environments. The current crises of resource depletion, overpopulation, environmental degradation, internal disorder and international conflict are but special and magnified variants of similar problems that have faced humanity for generations. The perception and context of each individual's problems may be unique, shared by immediate community or by an entire cultural group. Choices of solutions may be plentiful or may be severely limited by the recognized available means. Solutions may be chosen by the individual or by designated authorities. The goals guiding the choices may be culturally or individually specific. The vast expanse of human cultural diversity can be attributed largely to the varying mixes of these alternative options.

Under traditional economic models, economic growth of any sort is lauded as a sign of economic health. Growth is quantified by the GNP the measure of total consumption and production of goods and services formally exchanged within the nation in one year. The fallacy of looking at growth as a measure of health is that many of the goods and services produced are actually causing illness, depleting the earth of its nonrenewable resources and potential to sustain life over the long term. Water, air, soil; these non-renewable resources are being poisoned by industry and recycled through the ecosystem, killing wildlife, vegetation and humans. Yet, the GNP does not account for the costs associated with these life taking "production" activities. What we need is a new perspective on economic development which distinguishes between life-producing and life-destroying activities, an approach to development that encourages life creation over life destruction. We need this perspective now.

Bridge River Lillooet News AUG 24th 2005.

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