Anthropological Economics

By edited by Alberto Di Martino & Giuseppe Fischetti

Anthropologic economy is a new way of considering the economic processes from a human capital perspective.
What is the historical background for the existing economical context?
Why an economy (for a company or of a country) has to pay attention to its human capital?
Why an economy is, first of all, a human activity?
How a political system can foster the economy of a country?
Most of political economic theories address only ethical aspects without proposing practical solutions.  Or else the solutions they propose are too extreme or unworkable.
Beyond some common methodological mistakes, most of the time, they forget the importance of the human factor.
Workers and managers are the key of any progress. They are not only rational beings to be counted as heads but also the source of creativity, competence and willingness. Having an economic process focused on human capital means to know and respect the unicity of the persons involved.
Any sustainable economy requires that companies, governments and educational institutions look for identification, definition, planning and valorisation of the competences of their human resources.
This book, thanks to a panel of experts of political economy, political history, labour union history, economy strategy and policies and social actors, aims to explain why putting the person at the centre of economic systems is truly innovative.

• Language: English
• Publisher: EPD Edizioni
• Release date: Apr 28, 2021
• ISBN: 9791220297905

Book preview

Alberto Di Martino

Giuseppe Fischetti

ANTHROPOLOGICAL ECONOMICS

EPD Edizioni

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Contents

Introduction

Acknowledgements

ANTHROPOLOGICAL ECONOMICS

Bibliography

ECONOMICS AS A MORAL SCIENCE: AN ANTHROPOLOGICAL VISION

Bibliography

GOOD GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMIC ENTERPRISE

Bibliography

ANTHROPOLOGICAL ECONOMICS IN ITS CHARACTERISTICS DIMENSION

Bibliography

LEARNING BY BUILDING VALUE

Bibliography

THE ECONOMICS OF COLLABORATION

Bibliography

PEOPLE AND WORK AT THE CENTRE OF DEVELOPMENT THE FRONTIER OF ECONOMIC ECOLOGY

Bibliography

About the authors

Alberto Di Martino

Giuseppe Fischetti

Introduction

In order for the reader to understand the purposes that led to the writing of this book, a premise and two considerations must be put forward. The premise starts from the observation of how in the academic world there is a shared affirmation that it is not possible to understand the economy without knowing its history. But history is made up of events triggered by personalities, whose contribution has been so important as to make them venerated and immortal over time. From this it follows that over the years, in an attempt to identify a new economic path, most of those who decided to write about economics and reference theories, have never managed to separate the elements underlying the works written by authoritative characters such as Smith, Ricardo or Marx, from the context in which they were born, and then compare them with the reality in place. One wonders why something similar happened, and the answers can be manifold: perhaps because of a sense of devotion or respect for those who marked a turning point in an important historical moment, which then became a subject of examination for many students; or perhaps because many of the theories would have highlighted strong contradictions in which no one wanted to find themselves. However, it is not our intention to settle the issue in this text, but only to focus it under our magnifying glass, because this leads us to introduce the considerations mentioned above: the first is that the world in general is constantly evolving, and this phenomenon is conditioned by the variables of time and place; the concept of evolution is joined by that of transformation, the sum of which is able to condition both directly and indirectly each subject.

The second consideration, with the most dangerous effects, is that with the term evolution in economics, scholars intend to indicate processes that have to do with the future. This leads them to try to predict what will happen, neglecting to follow the transformation process, which, being already in place, requires more attention because, being linked to the present, it affects short-term results. With this behaviour, we lose sight of the characteristic elements that should be preserved as valid resources to reach a future period characterised by solid stability. This way of acting affects people's habits and behaviour, and generates confusion and uncertainty, especially within the economic system. You cannot be certain of the future unless you consolidate the present by using certain, absolute and remodulable references. Alfred Marshall – professor at the University of Cambridge – argued that economics... is a study of mankind in the ordinary affairs of life. And it is from this sentence that the journey to realize the present work began. Without departing from the premise mentioned above, we followed the historical path by implementing, always with the just respect of those who preceded us in the economic field, a different interpretation key, at the basis of which there has been discernment and research, comparison and criticism, knowledge and rationality to be able to reach the identification of that characteristic, and possibly unique element, present in the economy, a resource to always refer to, to ensure a constant future. The studies and in-depth studies carried out with a technical, scientific, ethical and socio-cultural perspective have produced a final result in which the person proved to be the most precious resource. Whatever path has been taken in the analysis of every strategic area, it has always brought us back to her. Her presence in every historical moment as in every scientific, political or economic field, has always been decisive. That is why it makes sense to speak of Anthropological Economics, not as a new theory to be opposed to other existing ones, but as a science that recognizes, in respect of its language, the person at the center of its process, with the right identification and enhancement of the contribution made by it.

We asked some authoritative friends, each representative of their own field, to help us to decline the vision of anthropological economics without compromising their own point of view; in this way it was possible to create a text where the reader, thanks to the different points of observation offered by the authors, in relation to a single element, namely the person, will be led to a better understanding of the motivations for a review of his action as a response to a vision of a future increasingly based on anthropological and less futuristic processes that is approximate.

To facilitate its reading, the work is divided into three logical parts: the first is opened by the contribution of Alberto Di Martino who lays the foundations for the subsequent treatment giving the cognitive and methodological definitions of anthropological economics. Giovanni Scanagatta, Professor of Monetary and Credit Economics at La Sapienza University in Rome helps us understand, through a historical journey, how ethics and economics are an integral part of man. Flavio Felice, Professor of History of Political Doctrines at the University of Molise, highlights how the anthropological dimension assumes relevance in issues focused on political-economic balances.

The second part is treated by Giuseppe Fischetti who proposes a pragmatic vision of the anthropological economy through one of its characteristic elements: the human capital. The vision of Fernando Fischetti, a researcher, focuses on how education and skills are necessary to feed the Human Capital created within the anthropological economy.

The third and final part deals with the contributions exogenous to the previously treated topics. Gabriele Darpetti, regional manager of social cooperatives association, highlights how the values of cooperation and collaboration naturally reside in man, proving to be important as producers of economic development. Sauro Rossi, as regional secretary CISL Marche, provides a vision of the world of work in which people, if placed at the centre of the processes and equipped with the right means, can constitute a guarantee for a strong economy whose values can be projected into a future based on principles of human sustainability.

Acknowledgements

When the idea of writing this book was born, we decided, by virtue of the breadth and variety of the topics that are covered in it, to first involve those who would become the authors of the chapters contained within this work. Their response, besides being full of enthusiasm and availability, was immediate! Their positive predisposition towards the literary project greatly gratified us. It is, therefore, to Gabriele Darpetti, Fernando Fischetti, Flavio Felice, Sauro Rossi, Giovanni Scanagatta, that the first thanks are addressed; thanks to their contribution this work has managed to broaden the vision of an anthropological economy in the most delicate areas of the same. But precisely in the central phase of carrying out the entire project, we had to face a unique and unthinkable extraordinary event: the Covid-19 pandemic. This meant having to give up a whole series of relationships and exchanges of views with authoritative people on our subject. The solution was immediately found in the use of the web. The numerous broadcasts made, both video and radio, have provided us with the opportunity not only to maintain contacts, but above all to expand them involving many more exponents of the world of institutions, intermediate bodies, professionals, and expert managers. Each of them has contributed with their own knowledge, to enrich our technical and cultural baggage, pushing us to deepen more and more the investigations and research in the field of the anthropological economy.

Therefore we thank Senator Rossella Accoto (M5S), Senator Donatella Conzatti (IV), Senator Giuliano D’Alfonso (PD), Hon. Giuliana Labriola (FI), Hon. Gennaro Migliore (IV), Hon. Massimo Misiti (M5S), Senator Giuliano Pazzaglini (Lega), Senator Dario Stefano (PD), Domenico Damascelli (FI) former Regional Councilor of Puglia Region, Manlio d 'Agostino Panebianco economist and professor of Economic Criminality and Computer Crimes, Daniela Fumarola member of THE CISL National Secretariat (Italian Confederation of Workers' Unions), the General Secretary of Confartigianato Padova Tiziana Pettenuzzo, the General Secretary of Confintesa Francesco Prudenzano, Roberto Rossini CGIL Secretary (General Italian Confederation of Labour) Pesaro and Urbino, Genziana Giacomelli deputy mayor of La Spezia, Giuseppe Guerini president of Cecop (European Confederation of Industrial and Cooperative Service), Beatrice Lucarella President of the Food Industries and Tourism section of Confindustria Taranto, Giorgio Lucchetta Vice President of the National Council of Accountants and Accounting Experts, Romualdo Rondina President of the Cooperative Credit Bank of Fano, Aldo Patruno General Director of Tourism and Culture of Puglia Region.

We are grateful to friends like Giancarlo Abete, Vice President of UEFA (Union of European Football Associations), Cristina Apostoliti, President of the Lamezia Terme Forensic Movement, Davide De Lungo, Professor of Public Law at San Raffaele University of Rome, Cristina Maldifassi, Secretary General of UCID (Christian Union of Entrepreneurs and Executives), who have helped us in our meetings with important organizations related to the world of associations.

We thank Alessandro Andolfi, Angelo Argento, Gabriele Bani, Mario Bellotti, Lucia Capodagli, Marcello Carli, Silvia Cavoli, Marco Del Rosso, Angela Genova, Giuseppe Piacente, Federico Stanghetta, Silvio Vacca, Massimo Zito for their willingness to engage in dialogue.

We are grateful to the UCID (Christian Union of Entrepreneurs and Executives) for having brought to the General States convened by the Conte government, through President Gianluca Galletti, former Minister of the Environment, the topic of the enhancement of human capital in the economy.

We appreciated the contribution made by the reflections of the members of the National Economic and Human Capital Commission of the UCID, Agostino Francischelli, Giovanni Girolomoni, Federico Gorgerino, Andrea Marsilio, Romolo d 'Orazio, Pier Franco Rivolo.

We would like to give a special thanks to our friends Rev’d Dr Paul Bart for his invaluable help in the linguistic revision of this work and to Antonio Monreale for his support.

Finally, we would like to thank our families, who constantly encourage us to take every initiative, thus renewing their trust in us. This makes us feel fortunate and leads us to express gratitude for life itself and what it has given us.

ANTHROPOLOGICAL ECONOMICS

Alberto Di Martino [1]

Foreword

The reader who will probably buy this book will be, most likely, interested in the idea of an economy which is more respectful of the human being than the one most of us are familiar with.

Therefore, we leave aside any discussion about the need for good business ethics and the denunciation of current economic/financial systems. We assume that the world situation, aggravated by the health emergency, requires us to review the principles of social and economic coexistence.

From this consideration comes the idea of formulating the concept of an economy that serves rather than exploits humankind. Luckily, it's not a new idea. Theories and initiatives are numerous and influential. However, previous attempts at addressing this issue have suffered from the following drawbacks:

- they address only ethical issues (they tend to ignore pragmatic aspects)

- they represent only a complaint (without proposing solutions)

- they propose extreme alternatives ( ab origine impracticable)

- they tend to be argumentatively fallacious ( argumentum ad hominen and ad populum).

In many cases improper use of terms prevails, thus obscuring or deflecting the argument. Although strongly linked, politics, economics, society and ethics are distinct categories. Concepts should also not be confused with institutions, such as the market.

We leave it to others to analyse more deeply the characteristics of the other proposals. We will simply outline ours with the help of friends and experts who have drawn a profile of the anthropologically sympathetic economy based on their field of study.

ANTHROPOLOGICAL ECONOMICS

We define anthropological economics as a criterion for analysing economic systems, whether public or private. Obviously we are not talking about technical analysis, but about an ethical and practical approach.

Anthropological vs anthropocentric

The refrain of recent economic theories is man at the centre (anthropocentrism). We may call it a neo-humanism enterprise, but there is a risk of a deviation far from the intentions.

This anthropocentrism risks being self-referential both in the ethical and religious spheres and in general claims a relativity detached from guiding principles and values. Man, as a dynamic subject in a historical perspective, tends to have errors of parallax. It is like abandoning the use of the compass, based on the reference of the Earth's magnetic pole, and pretending to navigate based only on what the navigator sees.

The mistake lies not in the use of the compass or the north pole, but in the way the boat is headed.

On the economic level, turning to the well-being of the human being (although it is not obvious what the object of the process is) requires that we define what is meant by well-being.

Assumption

Anthropological Economics (AE) is based on two assumptions and a corollary.

The first is that human activity is one of the fundamental pillars of economic processes.

The most well-known theories range from not considering it at all to considering it the only one.

It is emphasized that it is fundamental but not the only one.

Human activity is the element that differentiates one organization from the other (read human capital [2]). But it is not the only component. It is in synergy with other resources necessary for economic process such as financial, structural, information and relational.

The freedom of expression, collaboration and intervention of the worker (cornerstones of the process of evaluating human capital) should not conflict with the organization accusing it of suffocating human potential. At least, so we believe.

Setting goals, planning, monitoring progress and noting the reasons for deviations is a context (of rules and directions) within which a person's creativity can express itself.

This is the basis of our criticism of demagogic anthropocentrism. Trying to correct a system of economic thinking based solely on profit (often only in the short term, and to the detriment of natural, human and social resources), we may forget