Today, I'm introducing a concept I like to call "Movement Economics," which draws from ideas of “economic solidarity” and “group economics”.
Movement Economics is about strategically spending your money within a community to strengthen its economic base and support its shared values and goals. This approach isn't just about keeping dollars within a group but about creating a cycle of reinvestment that benefits all members—where it feels palpable that a grassroots movement (and the power that comes with it) is growing.
Consider the practice within many tightly-knit communities, such as how some Jewish Americans make it a point to hire within their community—whether it be a real estate broker, a banker, doctor, lawyer, etc. This keeps their dollars circulating among those who share a cultural and communal bond. They support each other in a way that ensures not just individual success, but the prosperity of the entire community.
Here’s a good video explaining the “Jewish Circular Economy”:
Here’s a summary of how businessman Berel Solomon in his video explains how the Jewish circular economy works in a real estate deal context:
- Deal Acquisition: A Jewish businessman secures a real estate deal, often sourced through connections within the Jewish community, like Jewish brokers or friends.
- Financing: To finance the deal, he turns to Jewish friends in finance, such as Jewish bankers or lenders, often from his synagogue network, for trust and reliability.
- Servicing the Property: Hiring for services like snow removal, cleaning, and construction, he prioritizes hiring Jewish individuals and companies, fostering community support.
- Indirect Services: Even ancillary services like accounting, legal, and office space rental are sought from Jewish professionals and businesses, further strengthening community ties.
- Charitable Giving: Throughout this process, a portion of earnings, typically 10%, is directed towards charitable causes within the Jewish community, reinforcing the circular economy and supporting communal institutions like synagogues, schools, and food banks.
Let’s apply the concept of Movement Economics to the "Regens" — a community deeply committed to advancing regenerative practices and projects — illustrates how Movement Economics can work on a practical level. When planning an event, for instance, a Regen organizer might choose a venue that is not only eco-friendly but also run by individuals who are part of the Regen community. This venue's management, in turn, is likely to hire other Regen-aligned businesses, such as event coordinators, video producers, and caterers who source their food sustainably.
Every dollar spent in this way stays within the Regen community, each transaction reinforcing the network and supporting the growth of the regen movement. This isn't merely about transactional exchanges; it’s about fostering a supportive ecosystem where everyone is committed to the community's core values. By choosing to spend money within this network, you're effectively paying people who will then pay it forward within your tribe, strengthening ties and deepening impact.
Movement Economics isn't about exclusivity but about preference for those who will reinvest in your shared goals. It’s about making conscious choices to support those who contribute to the flourishing of your community; people who advance the community’s goals.
By embracing Movement Economics, we're not just making purchases; we're manifesting a new world.