Economics of restitution

Publish date 27-01-2023

by Mauro Palombo

It is said that when everything is missing, it is not the strongest who wins, but those who help each other. Between crises that follow one another, poverty and inequalities that grow, people who become "too many", we still see opportunities that have not yet been seized: opportunities that ask for something more in terms of commitment and thought.
The economy is not life, nevertheless it is an important part of it: it must in fact satisfy its needs, day by day. Over time, it has managed to shape society, make us "individuals".
However, the markets are not transparent, with finance prevailing over production and politics.
It is clear that exchange is guided not so much by real needs as by the profit that requires us to make consumption our lifestyle.
But the actions, the choices in economics, which have such an impact on people's lives, have an essential ethical value. For those who live a dimension of faith, the economic action of each one is an instrument in which fidelity to the values of justice, of taking care of the poor and the weak, and of creation in its entirety is played out.

FROM INDIVIDUAL TO PERSON
Often the doctrine starts from an axiom - an evident principle, so much so that it does not need to be demonstrated: the individual is a homo oeconomicus, who acts guided by profit and by an innate greed. The natural consequence is that the "market" must preside over everything, in full freedom, capable of giving things "the right value". But it is easy to realize that this assumption, and what follows from it, does not correspond to reality at all. We are not individuals, simple elements of a species, but much more: people, unique and irreplaceable creatures. Born as "beings in relationship", oriented towards good, capable of living relationships of fraternity, in which to be fulfilled.
Open to the common good, to transcendence… Women and men are therefore always the ends of an action, and not a means to obtain something.

“BOTTOM-DOWN” PERSPECTIVES
This makes the possibility of seizing and generating new opportunities to support everyone's needs concrete. Observing the complex reality of life and society "from below" helps to orientate oneself towards paths and perspectives "on a human scale", initiatives of active solidarity.
There are truly a multitude of poor people who "knock" on the doors of our Arsenals every day. They find us open, and we share as much as possible; but, beyond immediate help, the request is a path to get out of need. Which can only pass from the experience of a job.
Growing up in autonomy, people free from need and capable of being and doing. Work that is often not lacking, but is increasingly transformed, and moves away from the most disadvantaged.

CRAFTS OF CHANGE
The spirit of "restitution" - feeling oneself, one's abilities, time, resources... as a gift received, and therefore to be "returned" by sharing them starting from the most needy - is once again the fundamental driving force with which to build.
In the history and daily life of Sermig, "restitution" directs every action, leads us to try to live the dimension of transcendence in the concrete gestures of every day.
Also in the economic initiative, the element of "gratuity" in the spirit of "restitution" opens many paths.
To share, you must first produce… Therefore, we have been open for some time to engaging in economic initiatives conducted in this spirit: to give form and substance to business activities, focused on the need to generate job opportunities and income. Seeking to meet friends who, thanks to their talents and experiences, can bring about the desired results.
The positive experience of bringing into play professionalism, skills, commitment, technology also developed ad hoc, shared freely to structure together an effective project in producing benefits for the poorest - here, as elsewhere in the world - has been consolidated.
In full awareness of the necessary sustainability of each initiative, the incubation and startup of activities in a dimension of "restitution" make it possible to develop the elements to achieve it with creativity and innovation.
To give ever more concrete substance to an "economy of restitution".

EXPERIENCES AND PROJECTS
After that of an innovative production and work cooperative successfully conducted for 15 years, various other experiences have so far been able to mature. Thanks to the availability of skills to design and manufacture household appliances, six years ago, together with Astelav, a leading national spare parts company, Regeneration was launched, a company for the recovery and systematic reuse of washing machines and other household appliances; used and discarded, but still usefully refurbished, and sold with warranty at affordable prices. Good economic results. And employment: several people in extreme difficulty have been trained and permanently employed in a close-knit team.
The development of a production activity in Africa of a specially designed model of photovoltaic refrigerator also germinated.
Which joins the many workshops and income generation initiatives launched and active over the years in situations of poverty in the world.
A few years ago the meeting with Consorzio Equo, a network of social cooperatives, which managed to include people among the poorest and most marginalized of our society in an activity of an efficient, sustainable, responsible, ecological "circular economy" – today a thousand families throughout Italy.
We are engaged in joint projects to expand recycling to types of materials hitherto little considered by studying opportunities for use, with important contributions at the university level. Simple jobs that produce added value, with easily depreciable equipment, and an outlet in a large and secure market.
In advantageous synergy with the already existing network throughout Italy.

Another area of particular interest is agriculture, which still has a lot to offer, including its "therapeutic" implications and the recovery of situations of discomfort. After interesting pilot projects, an attempt is being made to promote sustainable “social agriculture” initiatives. Aiming for a "proximity market" between farmers and citizens, in direct relationship with each other for a production process in which the consumption of good quality products in turn generates work.
A network of agricultural enterprises is born, with a strong entrepreneurial imprint - quality, competence, service, good quality/price ratio, sharing of production factors - for a better sustainability of small producers, whose commitment is penalized by a marketing that retains a large part of the added value product.

Also in this area there are concrete spaces to go through; that an action around a common spirit of “restitution” can open.
Even in a scenario of great contradictions and difficulties, it is the responsible choice of each one, today and always, that determines the change.


Mauro Palombo
NPFOCUS
NP November 2022

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