Alternatives to Capitalism

This presentation was quite unique in its delivery – all experiential learning being applied.  There were two individual scenarios being used for role play: a bicycle manufacturer and a rubber company.  The scenarios involved some economic challenge that needed action.  Each action was designed to meet expected solutions found in typical Capitalistic, Socialistic, and Solidarity Economies.  The decisions were in the form of impacting the company sectors of MANAGEMENT, LABOR, and their CUSTOMER base.

The audience was divided into these management, labor, and customer base sectors and then challenged to choose the best of 5 solutions within capitalism, socialism, and solidarity models.  The solutions were common among the three models;

1.  Close the factory to save capital

2.  Move the factory overseas to protect the capital

3.  Reduce the worker’s wages to protect the capital

4.  Reduce the quality to protect the capital

5.  Raise the prices of the product being made.

A summary involves the idea that capitalism as popularly practice would move the factory or reduce the worker’s wages to save their capital.  A socialistic model would reduce quality or raise the prices to protect their jobs.  Customers would look at the price in capitalism.  It was interesting to me what each group’s interests were and their reasons behind their choice of actions.

Seems as if other models could be explored in an experiential manner such as a hybrid model that could pick and choose certain aspects of each model.  For my Baha’i friends reading this blog, an economic addition worth exploring could include our understanding of that “future” Baha’i Commonwealth.