Diverse Economies Framework DEF

The diverse economy framework is one way of expanding our understanding of what makes up the economy.

It is organized into three columns: TRANSACTIONS, LABOUR, ENTERPRISE.

Mainstream economic analysis focuses on formal market transactions, paid labour (waged and salaried) and capitalist enterprise. These activities are, however, only the tip of the economic iceberg. They are located in the top row of the DEF.

In each column below are all the other transactions, forms of labour and enterprises organized along different lines and according to alternative rules that make up the Diverse Economy.

J.K. Gibson-Graham (2006, 71)

The diverse economy of each place will be different. This DEF helps you to identify all the economic assets of  your local economy.

Let's look in turn at the kind of activities that you might find in each column of the DEF.

Transactions

Trade of goods and services in diverse markets

Only some goods and services are freely traded at prices set according to unregulated 'laws' of supply and demand. Many are traded in markets where prices are influenced by various power relationships. We can think of diverse markets, including:   naturally protected markets articially protected markets monopolized markets state regulated markets niche markets

Exchange of goods and services in alternative markets

Many of the goods and services that we rely on are obtained via exchanges in non-typical or alternative markets, such as:  informal markets barter ethical fair-trade markets underground markets local trading system, alternative currencies   co-op exchanges alternative credit sale of public goods

Transactions that take place outside of markets

Some of the most important goods and services are given, taken or exchanged outside of markets in areas of life often seen as 'not economic'. Yet these transactions provide material sustenance and contribute to levels of economic well-being. Non-market transactions include:  household flows gift-giving indigenous exchange state allocations, state appropriations gleaning, poaching hunting, fishing, gathering theft

A Diverse Transactions Inventory Exercise

Based on your local knowledge, use the DEF TRANSACTIONS column to identify:

• What kinds of goods and services are traded in your local area?
• What kinds of markets exist for these commodities?
• Are there alternative markets?
• What kinds of goods and services are exchanged in non-market ways?
• What kinds of ethics govern all these different transactions?
• How many buyers or sellers  are there in each market?
• What kind of power is wielded by buyers or sellers?
• Can new entrants easily enter the market or are there constraints?
• Are some goods bartered, gifted, gleaned, poached, stolen?
• What kinds of relationships exist between  producers and sellors, consumers and sellers, givers and receivers?

Use this information to identify the assets and strengths of the local economy that could be built on.

Click here to download a blank Diverse TRANSACTIONS Inventory Sheet

Labour

Paid wage labour

Most people work for a wage because they have no other way of gaining access to money with which to buy commodities and survive. Pay packets vary according to the kind of wage labour performed and degree of organization of the work force. In general, employers set the wage level. Diverse forms of wage labour include: salaried labour unionized labour non-unionized labour seasonal labour family labour part-time labour

Alternatively paid labour

There are many other ways that labour is paid for working apart from the wage contract between employer and employee. Here are some alternative kinds of paid labour: self-employed workers pay themselves a wage (often below subsistence) workers in cooperatives collectively agree on their wage payments   reciprocal labour echange involves a trust based agreement labour can be paid in kind indentured labourers sign up to a period of unfree labour work for welfare involves working in exchange for a dole payment

Unpaid labour

Much of the work that sustains the lives of families and communities is unpaid for. This does not make it less important to the economy. This unpaid labour makes a crucial contribution to material, social and spiritual well-being. Unpaid labur takes the form of: housework family care neighbourhood work volunteering self-provisioning slave labour

A Diverse Labour Practices Inventory Exercise

Based on your local knowledge use the DEF LABOUR column to identify the diverse labour practices performed in your community.

• What kinds of waged labour do people do? In what sectors (agriculture, trade, construction, manufacturing etc)?
• What other kinds of labour is done for payment (either in cash or kind)? In what sectors is this kind of work done?
• Are there any reciprocal labour practices? How are they organized? How common are they and who many people participate in the exchange? 
• How many people in your community have left to work abroad on contracts? How often do they return? 
• What other kinds of work is performed in households, family networks and communities?
• Who does what (men, women, children, elderly, middle aged, young)?

Look at the list of work practices and estimate how many people do each kind of work. Note that many people do many differnt kinds of work in one day or over one week. Which work is the most enjoyable and rewarding? What work practices might be seen as an asset in your local community/ How could these work practices be used for local development?

Click here to down load a Diverse LABOUR Practices Inventory Sheet

Enterprise

Capitalist enterprise

Capitalist enterprises are privately owned. Workers in the enterprise work for a wage but have no rights over what they produce. The goods and services workers create are sold for a profit that is owned by the capitalist employer. Once all costs are met the remainder, or surplus, is privately appropriated. Capitalist enterprises can take the form of: family firms private unincorporated companies public companies multinational corporations

Alternative capitalist enterprise

In some capitalist enterprises surplus is distributed to social or environmental ends. These alternative capitalist enterprises include: state enterprises green firms socially responsible firms non-profit organizations producer marketing cooperatives

Non-capitalist enterprise

There are many other kinds of enterprise in which employers and employees organize the production, appropriation and distribution of surplus in different ways. Non-capitalist enterprises include ones in which surplus is appropriated and distributed: communally by the collective  in kind by a feudal landowner independently by the self-employed producer forcefully by a slave owner

A Diverse Enterprises Inventory Exercise

Based on your local knowledge use the DEF Enterprise column to identify the range of different enterprises that operate in the local economy.

• First, identify the enterprises in terms of local, national or international ownership.
• Second, distinguish the enterprises in terms of their numbers of employees (small, medium and large).
• Third, identify the enterprises in terms of there sector (agriculture, manufacturing, trading, services).
• Taking each group of enterprise in turn, try to identify how enterprise profits are generated and distributed.
• Are there any non-capitalist enterprises? How might you categorize them using the DEF? 
• How are the different enterprises linked into the local economy? Do they circulate any surplus generated in the local economy or does it drain away?

Click here to down load a Diverse ENTERPRISES Inventory Sheet