Changes

Digging through a few conference notes from the [http://www.ctam.com CTAM Research Conference] of February 2007, I uncovered a few things I had jotted down while listening to [http://www.futuredesigndays.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=96:speaker-5&catid=39:speakers-2006&Itemid=102 Shari Swan], founder of Streative Branding and former global marketing executive at Reebok.  Swan simply presented a timeline of human economic history, but I found it provocative enough then, and still enough now to share with you today.

Digging through a few conference notes from the [http://www.ctam.com CTAM Research Conference] of February 2007, I uncovered a few things I had jotted down while listening to [http://www.futuredesigndays.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=96:speaker-5&catid=39:speakers-2006&Itemid=102 Shari Swan], founder of Streative Branding and former global marketing executive at Reebok.  Swan simply presented a timeline of human economic history, but I found it provocative enough then, and still enough now to share with you today.

Let me present my graphic version of the timeline (Swan’s didn’t look like this), and after you give it some thought and consideration, we can then discuss it:

Let me present my graphic version of the timeline (Swan’s didn’t look like this), and after you give it some thought and consideration, we can then discuss it:

[http://akahele.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Timeline-smaller.jpg <img class="size-full wp-image-1197" title="Timeline smaller" src="http://akahele.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Timeline-smaller.jpg" alt="Timeline of economies" width="432" height="197" />]

[[Image:Timeline-smaller.jpg|thumb|Timeline of economies]]

'''Tribal Economy'''

===Tribal Economy===

I don’t recall that Swan went into detail about the earliest phases of human development, but my cursory knowledge of civilization between 100,000 and 10,000 BC would evoke images of [http://www.ecotao.com/holism/hu_neand.htm Neanderthal] men, women, and children using stone tools to fashion crude stone weapons – most significantly the spear tip.  The society would be organized around an extended family or perhaps a close-knit handful of families that we would now call a “tribe”.  The tribe would have a self-contained economy, and the most common interaction between tribes would be of a defensive or violent nature.  Food would be gained through the “hunt and gather” technique, and homesteads would not be permanent structures because wild game migrates with the seasons.  Sitting in our comfortable, heated homes with full refrigerators, it is very difficult to even imagine human life in the Tribal Economy.

I don’t recall that Swan went into detail about the earliest phases of human development, but my cursory knowledge of civilization between 100,000 and 10,000 BC would evoke images of [http://www.ecotao.com/holism/hu_neand.htm Neanderthal] men, women, and children using stone tools to fashion crude stone weapons – most significantly the spear tip.  The society would be organized around an extended family or perhaps a close-knit handful of families that we would now call a “tribe”.  The tribe would have a self-contained economy, and the most common interaction between tribes would be of a defensive or violent nature.  Food would be gained through the “hunt and gather” technique, and homesteads would not be permanent structures because wild game migrates with the seasons.  Sitting in our comfortable, heated homes with full refrigerators, it is very difficult to even imagine human life in the Tribal Economy.

'''Rural Economy'''

===Rural Economy===

Then, around 10,000 BC, a revolution in civilization transformed the economy.  People [http://history-world.org/neolithic.htm learned to grow crops] that could be consumed, stored for off-season consumption, or traded to another tribe to keep them from attacking your tribe or to obtain some surplus product they had in their possession.  This was the Rural Economy.

Then, around 10,000 BC, a revolution in civilization transformed the economy.  People [http://history-world.org/neolithic.htm learned to grow crops] that could be consumed, stored for off-season consumption, or traded to another tribe to keep them from attacking your tribe or to obtain some surplus product they had in their possession.  This was the Rural Economy.

'''Industrial Economy'''

===Industrial Economy===

At about the time the crude steam engine was being made more practical and efficient (the years between 1700 and 1775), we can say mankind’s economy was transformed once again.  Mechanical turning of wheels and milling tools was no longer dependent on horses walking in a circle or the [http://www.uh.edu/engines/epi105.htm cascading water of a mill race], so industrial manufacturing and processing could be located closer to centers of labor, resources, and distribution, and thus was born the Industrial Economy.

At about the time the crude steam engine was being made more practical and efficient (the years between 1700 and 1775), we can say mankind’s economy was transformed once again.  Mechanical turning of wheels and milling tools was no longer dependent on horses walking in a circle or the [http://www.uh.edu/engines/epi105.htm cascading water of a mill race], so industrial manufacturing and processing could be located closer to centers of labor, resources, and distribution, and thus was born the Industrial Economy.

'''Consumer Economy'''

===Consumer Economy===

Swan suggests that after 200 years of the Industrial Economy’s accomplishments, manufacturing things that couldn’t be made by hand under the Rural Economy (railroad tracks, locomotives, automobiles, airplanes, and hydroelectric dams, to name a few), civilization graduated to a Consumer Economy, all about the household or the individual acquiring things that made life easier or symbolized status.  This was the age of television sets, [http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/tvdinner.html frozen dinners], Barbie dolls, and annual stylistic alterations to automobiles so that consumers would just ''have'' to buy “the new model”.  It’s important to understand the Consumer Economy (and don’t turn to Wikipedia for help – [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Consumer_economy&amp;oldid=323722345 its article] about the Consumer Economy is abysmal), not only because it has so indelibly shaped our present urban and suburban culture, but because we are arguably still in it.  More on that in a moment, though.

Swan suggests that after 200 years of the Industrial Economy’s accomplishments, manufacturing things that couldn’t be made by hand under the Rural Economy (railroad tracks, locomotives, automobiles, airplanes, and hydroelectric dams, to name a few), civilization graduated to a Consumer Economy, all about the household or the individual acquiring things that made life easier or symbolized status.  This was the age of television sets, [http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/tvdinner.html frozen dinners], Barbie dolls, and annual stylistic alterations to automobiles so that consumers would just ''have'' to buy “the new model”.  It’s important to understand the Consumer Economy (and don’t turn to Wikipedia for help – [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Consumer_economy&amp;oldid=323722345 its article] about the Consumer Economy is abysmal), not only because it has so indelibly shaped our present urban and suburban culture, but because we are arguably still in it.  More on that in a moment, though.

'''Human Economy – are we there yet?'''

===Human Economy – are we there yet?===

Swan’s talk at the CTAM conference was not so much focused on this overall timeline upon which I’ve expended so many words taken from my crude understanding of each era, but rather Swan spent most of her presentation elaborating on the characteristics of the most recent stop on that timeline: the Human Economy.  I wish I had taken better notes, however, it was clear that Swan characterizes the Human Economy as placing a capital and cultural emphasis on ''bettering and enriching the person''.  (Again, you will be lost if you turn to Wikipedia for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_economy a definition of “human economy”], which is a quaint irony, if you ask me.)  Symbols of the Human Economy might include a fully booked yoga class at the local YMCA, the ever-increasing popularity of “continuing education” programs for adults and seniors at a community college or via distance learning, and of course, volunteer efforts that assist those less fortunate than they who provide the helping hand.

Swan’s talk at the CTAM conference was not so much focused on this overall timeline upon which I’ve expended so many words taken from my crude understanding of each era, but rather Swan spent most of her presentation elaborating on the characteristics of the most recent stop on that timeline: the Human Economy.  I wish I had taken better notes, however, it was clear that Swan characterizes the Human Economy as placing a capital and cultural emphasis on ''bettering and enriching the person''.  (Again, you will be lost if you turn to Wikipedia for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_economy a definition of “human economy”], which is a quaint irony, if you ask me.)  Symbols of the Human Economy might include a fully booked yoga class at the local YMCA, the ever-increasing popularity of “continuing education” programs for adults and seniors at a community college or via distance learning, and of course, volunteer efforts that assist those less fortunate than they who provide the helping hand.

I’m willing to be called a curmudgeon or a cynic for saying this, but I do not believe that a significant number of us are dedicating our time and resources toward “bettering and enriching the human”.  Though many of us would ''like'' to be doing this (or ''imagine'' ourselves to be doing so), the Consumer Economy still has us trapped – more than ever – in debt, in paycheck-to-paycheck budgeting, and indeed in federally mandated bail-outs of entire consumer-driven industries.  I think we’re still mostly stuck in the Consumer Economy, and we need look no further than the sub-prime lending fiasco, or the debacle of the Iraq War which went off with nary a protest from American citizens who might bother to ask how we’d pay for such a war, or the fact that Craigslist.org is now most notorious for [http://www.docstoc.com/docs/13676359/Thomas-Dart-v-Craigslist enabling sexual prostitution], possibly even of minors – and our legal system is forced to exempt that website from punishment or even self-restraint, thanks to a  [http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/47/230.html 1997 law that our Congress passed] without really understanding that the Internet is just another channel of publishing.

I’m willing to be called a curmudgeon or a cynic for saying this, but I do not believe that a significant number of us are dedicating our time and resources toward “bettering and enriching the human”.  Though many of us would ''like'' to be doing this (or ''imagine'' ourselves to be doing so), the Consumer Economy still has us trapped – more than ever – in debt, in paycheck-to-paycheck budgeting, and indeed in federally mandated bail-outs of entire consumer-driven industries.  I think we’re still mostly stuck in the Consumer Economy, and we need look no further than the sub-prime lending fiasco, or the debacle of the Iraq War which went off with nary a protest from American citizens who might bother to ask how we’d pay for such a war, or the fact that Craigslist.org is now most notorious for [http://www.docstoc.com/docs/13676359/Thomas-Dart-v-Craigslist enabling sexual prostitution], possibly even of minors – and our legal system is forced to exempt that website from punishment or even self-restraint, thanks to a  [http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/47/230.html 1997 law that our Congress passed] without really understanding that the Internet is just another channel of publishing.

'''The proof is in the Internet'''

===The proof is in the Internet===

In fact, I think the Internet is the best proof that ours is still a Consumer Economy and not a Human Economy.  If you look at the 10 most popular websites, four are devoted to ad-supported search and e-mail communications (Google, Yahoo!, MSN &amp; MSN Live); and three are devoted to consumer transactions (eBay, Amazon, and Microsoft); leaving just three that could be described as oriented toward the Human Economy (Facebook, YouTube, and Wikipedia).  Take Facebook.  It has surged over the past two years to become the # 3 website by including more and more folks of my generation rather than the Britney Spears generation, bringing together long-lost high school classmates and former co-workers to talk about what’s important to them.  But, what seems to be actually important to them?  Apparently, the current rage is playing viral marketing games like ''Mafia Wars'' , ''FarmVille'', ''Farm Town'', and ''Sorority Life'', where enterprising code developers are capitalizing on the unwitting willingness of consumers to [http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/10/26/social-games-how-the-big-three-make-millions/ open their wallets] to feel connected.  ''Sorority Life'' offers the following for your human betterment:

In fact, I think the Internet is the best proof that ours is still a Consumer Economy and not a Human Economy.  If you look at the 10 most popular websites, four are devoted to ad-supported search and e-mail communications (Google, Yahoo!, MSN &amp; MSN Live); and three are devoted to consumer transactions (eBay, Amazon, and Microsoft); leaving just three that could be described as oriented toward the Human Economy (Facebook, YouTube, and Wikipedia).  Take Facebook.  It has surged over the past two years to become the # 3 website by including more and more folks of my generation rather than the Britney Spears generation, bringing together long-lost high school classmates and former co-workers to talk about what’s important to them.  But, what seems to be actually important to them?  Apparently, the current rage is playing viral marketing games like ''Mafia Wars'' , ''FarmVille'', ''Farm Town'', and ''Sorority Life'', where enterprising code developers are capitalizing on the unwitting willingness of consumers to [http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/10/26/social-games-how-the-big-three-make-millions/ open their wallets] to feel connected.  ''Sorority Life'' offers the following for your human betterment:

What are your thoughts?  Have we entered the Human Economy phase of civilization?  Are we still in the Consumer Economy?  Is the Human Economy something we should be striving for?  Or, is there a better way to model our human timeline?  I look forward to your comments below.

What are your thoughts?  Have we entered the Human Economy phase of civilization?  Are we still in the Consumer Economy?  Is the Human Economy something we should be striving for?  Or, is there a better way to model our human timeline?  I look forward to your comments below.

<h4>Image credits:</h4>

 

    <li><span style="color: #000000;">''Timeline of economies'', [http://www.GregoryKohs.com Gregory Kohs], all rights reserved.[http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pierre_Omidyar_Richard_Branson.jpg ]</span></li>

===Image credits===

*''Timeline of economies'', [http://www.GregoryKohs.com Gregory Kohs], all rights reserved.[http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pierre_Omidyar_Richard_Branson.jpg]

==Comments==

==Comments==

;Cedric

 

:I have to agree strongly with you on this one, Greg.  If we did not have an economy so dependent on consumer spending, we would not be in quite the mess that we presently are.  From your description of Swan’s description of “human economy”, it sounds more like a hopeful prediction for the future than any realistic description of the present state of things.  It has a very Star Trek-type feel to it.

;Jon Awbrey       

 

:Let’s not talk of Wiki-Φerengi …

Cedric    

;Jon Awbrey       

I have to agree strongly with you on this one, Greg.  If we did not have an economy so dependent on consumer spending, we would not be in quite the mess that we presently are.  From your description of Swan’s description of “human economy”, it sounds more like a hopeful prediction for the future than any realistic description of the present state of things.  It has a very Star Trek-type feel to it.

:Siriusly though, beginning a couple of decades ago my hooman ears were often bent by many conversations concerning the way that succeeding waves of revolution in human culture, industry, and technology had impacted, were impacting, and might impact our institutions of higher learning, not to mention the hapless if intrepid souls who pass through their portals, whether as consumers or producers of “knowledge”, much less to mention the rarer birds who chase that elusive flutterby of “wisdom”.

 

:Ironically enough, the article I had in mind to pass along at this point is locked behind a JSTOR gate to which I am short a key as we speak, so let me just link to what looks like a reasonable facsimile of the same essay:

Jon Awbrey       

:Susan M. Awbrey and David K. Scott, “The Third Transformation :

Let’s not talk of Wiki-Φerengi …

:Universities into the Next Century”

 

;Jonas D. Rand       

Jon Awbrey       

:We are still in the consumer economy, in my opinion,  but to extend your analogy with the Social Web, somewhat participatory (in regards to commenting) noncommercial news sites like Common Dreams and Truthout are increasing in popularity, as well as networks like Indymedia/IMC. Amy Goodman has analyzed the transformation of the mass media into a forum for debate on political issues, on a scale of public participation never seen before. Still, though, the popularity of commercial media is strong, as is the monopoly held by major corporations like News Corp over the media. Additionally, as is pointed out at the end of this article, the majority of content on these sites is pure drivel, like what is mostly found on Facebook. I have an account under a fake name to see Wikipedians’ friends lists, and I happen to see some of the babble that takes place there. It’s a cesspool over there.

Siriusly though, beginning a couple of decades ago my hooman ears were often bent by many conversations concerning the way that succeeding waves of revolution in human culture, industry, and technology had impacted, were impacting, and might impact our institutions of higher learning, not to mention the hapless if intrepid souls who pass through their portals, whether as consumers or producers of “knowledge”, much less to mention the rarer birds who chase that elusive flutterby of “wisdom”.

;Jonas D. Rand       

 

:To correct: this was not an “analogy” with the Web, but rather the usage of the Web as an example of the consumer economy still being in use. The term “analogy” is incorrect in describing what this article says about the Web. It’s a great article, by the way.

Ironically enough, the article I had in mind to pass along at this point is locked behind a JSTOR gate to which I am short a key as we speak, so let me just link to what looks like a reasonable facsimile of the same essay:

;aloma210       

 

:Jon’s play on words reminds me of the

Susan M. Awbrey and David K. Scott, “The Third Transformation :

:full context: “It’s only me pursuing

Universities into the Next Century”

:something I’m not sure of. Across my

 

:dream, with nets of wonder. I chase

Jonas D. Rand       

:the bright elusive butterfly of …..”

We are still in the consumer economy, in my opinion,  but to extend your analogy with the Social Web, somewhat participatory (in regards to commenting) noncommercial news sites like Common Dreams and Truthout are increasing in popularity, as well as networks like Indymedia/IMC. Amy Goodman has analyzed the transformation of the mass media into a forum for debate on political issues, on a scale of public participation never seen before. Still, though, the popularity of commercial media is strong, as is the monopoly held by major corporations like News Corp over the media. Additionally, as is pointed out at the end of this article, the majority of content on these sites is pure drivel, like what is mostly found on Facebook. I have an account under a fake name to see Wikipedians’ friends lists, and I happen to see some of the babble that takes place there. It’s a cesspool over there.

:Could Lind have been dreaming of an

 

:internet before there was one?

Jonas D. Rand       

;eme       

To correct: this was not an “analogy” with the Web, but rather the usage of the Web as an example of the consumer economy still being in use. The term “analogy” is incorrect in describing what this article says about the Web. It’s a great article, by the way.

:i seems to me that we are arguably in the human economy in many ways….

 

:but still also segments society are still probably caught up in the consumer economy

aloma210       

:i think I also read (perhaps, was it Covey? – can’t remember) about the “personality ethic” – I can’t remember what that was supposed to have evolved into….

Jon’s play on words reminds me of the

:interesting post thanks.

full context: “It’s only me pursuing

;Jon Awbrey       

something I’m not sure of. Across my

:If you know me, you know it cost me

dream, with nets of wonder. I chase

:an e-fort of will in some x-tremity

the bright elusive butterfly of …..”

:to e-rase that hyphen of e-lusivity.

Could Lind have been dreaming of an

:I will check the liner notes, but later maybe —

internet before there was one?

:there’s a man with a net, and he’s chasing me!

 

;Tweets that mention Akahele -- Topsy.com       

eme       

:This post was mentioned on Twitter by Gregory Kohs and Shari Swan.

i seems to me that we are arguably in the human economy in many ways….

;Shari Swan said<nowiki>:</nowiki>:Greg Kohs has just written about the Human Economy from my lecture 3 years ago!

 

;Anthony DiPierro  

but still also segments society are still probably caught up in the consumer economy

:I think the logarithmic length of time periods in that analysis belies the bias of its methodology.  But maybe I would be more impressed if I heard the actual speech.

 

;Gregory Kohs       

i think I also read (perhaps, was it Covey? – can’t remember) about the “personality ethic” – I can’t remember what that was supposed to have evolved into….

:I want to thank everyone for making comments on this post.  Not to mention, I also received a comment via e-mail from Seth Finkelstein, who said:

 

:You might want to take a look at Yochai Benkler’s recent famous book (in certain circles), Wealth Of Networks. It’s online and freely downloadable as a PDF. It’s making a related type of “Human Economy” argument, though phrased differently.

interesting post thanks.

;J Powell       

 

:Human economy?  Nope.

Jon Awbrey       

:Right idea, wrong moniker.

If you know me, you know it cost me

:<nowiki>*</nowiki>Services* economy.

an e-fort of will in some x-tremity

;J Powell       

to e-rase that hyphen of e-lusivity.

:I like your line of thought, Greg.

 

:But I’d personally put the comparatives in the form of:

I will check the liner notes, but later maybe —

:1. ECONOMIC

there’s a man with a net, and he’s chasing me!

:“Industrial/Goods” vs. “Services/Intangibles” economy.

 

:2. VALUES-related

Tweets that mention Akahele -- Topsy.com       

:Individualistic/Materialism vs. Collectivist/Philanthropic.

This post was mentioned on Twitter by Gregory Kohs and Shari Swan.

:My 2 cents: if you start to mix-up the green movement with the wellness-movement, there’s a mixup in metaphors, i.e. I consider “wellness” to be individualistic-materialism.  Whereas “green” climate-conscious focus is, at the core, collectivist/philanthropic – at least until someone figures out how to score some dough off of it, in which case it plops back into category 1,

 

;Huynh Hung Tien       

Shari Swan said: Greg Kohs has just written about the Human Economy from my lecture 3 years ago!

:We have to create a new economic theory which will help mankind to solve all it problems like: charity, health, environment, recession and crisis…See an idea in link http://www.facebook.com/notes/huynh-hung-tien/the-human-economy/118527191533055

 

Anthony DiPierro    

I think the logarithmic length of time periods in that analysis belies the bias of its methodology.  But maybe I would be more impressed if I heard the actual speech.

 

Gregory Kohs       

I want to thank everyone for making comments on this post.  Not to mention, I also received a comment via e-mail from Seth Finkelstein, who said:

 

You might want to take a look at Yochai Benkler’s recent famous book (in certain circles), Wealth Of Networks. It’s online and freely downloadable as a PDF. It’s making a related type of “Human Economy” argument, though phrased differently.

 

J Powell       

Human economy?  Nope.

 

Right idea, wrong moniker.

 

*Services* economy.

 

J Powell       

I like your line of thought, Greg.

 

But I’d personally put the comparatives in the form of:

 

1. ECONOMIC

“Industrial/Goods” vs. “Services/Intangibles” economy.

 

2. VALUES-related

Individualistic/Materialism vs. Collectivist/Philanthropic.

 

My 2 cents: if you start to mix-up the green movement with the wellness-movement, there’s a mixup in metaphors, i.e. I consider “wellness” to be individualistic-materialism.  Whereas “green” climate-conscious focus is, at the core, collectivist/philanthropic – at least until someone figures out how to score some dough off of it, in which case it plops back into category 1,

 

Huynh Hung Tien       

We have to create a new economic theory which will help mankind to solve all it problems like: charity, health, environment, recession and crisis…See an idea in link http://www.facebook.com/notes/huynh-hung-tien/the-human-economy/118527191533055