The Economy: Three uses of money

Leonardo Boff

14/03/2010

Opinión

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The Fraternity Campaign of this year, now ecumenical, will propose that the thousands of Christian, parochial and base communities discuss the theme: The Economy and Life, a central theme, given the world economic crisis that has left more than 60 million unemployed persons.

It is about rescuing the original meaning of the economy, as the activity intended to guarantee the material base of the personal, social and spiritual life. The economy can not take up all the space, as has happened in recent decades. World society turned into a market society and everything, from sex to the Holy Trinity, was turned into merchandise to make money. The economy is part of a bigger whole.

To facilitate understanding, I distinguish between three areas of human activity, one of which is occupied by the economy. In the first place, we are beings of need: we need to eat, to drink, to be healthy, to inhabit, and other services. In these areas, we all depend on each other to take care of that infra-structure. That is the area of the economy. In the second place, we are beings of relation: we collaborate with others, establish rights and duties, obey laws, and together we build the common good. That is the area of politics. Finally, we are beings creation: each person possesses abilities, do not only reproduce what already exists, but to create, exercise freedom and advance society. That is the area of culture. All are intertwined, even when there are conflicts they do not invalidate this basic structure.

We are going to concentrate in a fundamental chapter of the economy, namely, the use of money. In the beginning there was no money, just barter: I give you a kilogram of rice and you give me three bottles of milk. The barter implied a direct relation and trust that the exchange was just. But as society became more sophisticated, money came in as a means of barter. And there is where danger appeared, because money means power that obeys the following logic: «who does not have, wants to have; who has, says: "I want to have more"; and who has more, says: "there is never enough".» Then appears the possibility of making money without working, money making money. But money has three legitimate uses. They are to buy, to economize and to donate. The money to buy is necessary to consume what we need. Even then we have to always ask ourselves: do I buy what I need, or do I follow propaganda or fashion? Does a boss exploit the workers? Does production respect human rights and nature, or is too much pesticide used? This is money for today.

The second use of money is to save. It is something for tomorrow. We never know the twists of life: illness, unemployment, insufficient pension. Many cannot save anything, but consume everything to survive. But if something is left over, where should that money be put?

Money put under a pillow is dead money, which produces nothing. Here is where banks appear, to save the money. The banks make it produce by lending it to those who want to use it and do not have capital of their own. They receive the money as a loan but make it earn in the production. They pay interest to the bank and a portion goes to the owner of the money. An aware person will want to know who will receive his money as a loan: will it be used to make weapons? To support enterprises that destroy nature? Brazil and Bangladesh made the extraordinary decision of creating micro-credit to help the poor who want to produce.

The third use of money is to donate. Money is not to be accumulated but to circulate. If my needs are sufficiently and decently attended, if I have economic tranquility for the future, if I have guaranteed the well being and a certain future for my family, to donate is a gesture of great generosity. It expresses gratitude for the gift of life, of health, for the love received from the others. It is highly ethical to donate to the victims of Haiti, to support projects against child prostitution, or shelters for the populations of the poor neighborhoods. And we feel that when we give, we receive the priceless joy of having done good, and of having loved others.

- Leonardo Boff, Theologian Earthcharter Commission

Free translation from the Spanish sent byMelina Alfaro, done at REFUGIO DEL RIO GRANDE, Texas, EE.UU.

https://www.alainet.org/en/articulo/140068?language=en