Decommodification through free social infrastructure
What's the problem?
In a growth-economy, more and more areas of life are being commodified, i.e. conducted via the market, in order to maintain economic growth and open up new markets. This is accompanied by an increase in resource-overexploitation and emissions. In addition, especcially poorer people are excluded from using infrastructure and services.
What's the measure?
The increasing economization of all areas of life is to be questioned. Steps are to be taken that lead to an increased de-commodification (decommercialisation) through the state, municipal and/or cooperative provision of social infrastructure that can be used free of charge and is democratically designed for all those involved.
How can the implementation look like?
Take public transport, for example: the free use of public transport would currently com to 13 billion euros, with an estimated additional 14 billion euros spent on the nationwide expansion. The expansion and organisation of public transport should be carried out with the participation of citizens' transport councils (nationwide, regional, local).
How can climate change be counteracted and how can economic conditions be created that support effective climate protection measures?
Firstly, with the development and democratic design of the public social infrastructure, needs for social security, health and care, housing, mobility, education, culture, etc. are channelled into democratically and ecologically designable forms of satisfaction. In addition, a social division of society as an essential motor of economic growth and the overuse of natural resources is counteracted.
How quickly can the measure be implemented?
Step by step according to a redistribution from top to bottom.
How long does it take for the measure to take effect?
Effects can be expected immediately after introducing the measure.
References to other measures
This measure is mainly related to the promotion of {translationof orig_page="Förderung von → Commons) and a society based on solidarity, as well as the introduction of a basic and maximum income {translationof orig_page="Grund- und Maximaleinkommen" translation_lang="en" translation_page=""} and the development of social security systems into citizens' insurance schemes.
Problems of social, global and generational justice?
Only an unconditional, i.e. also free access for all people and the possibility for all people to democratically shape the social infrastructure is just. Access for use and participation must therefore be ensured irrespective of social status, age, citizenship and nationality, and must be barrier-free.
Further literatur and sources
- links-netz.de: Sozialpolitik als Bereitstellung einer sozialen Infrastruktur (abgerufen am 2.3.2020) http://old.links-netz.de/rubriken/R_infrastruktur.html
- Verband Deutscher Verkehrsunternehmen : „Kostenloser“ Nahverkehr und 365-Euro-Tickets (abgerufen am 2.3.2020) https://www.vdv.de/kostenloser-nahverkehr.aspx
- Ronald Blaschke: Keine nachhaltige ökologische Transformation ohne bedingungslose soziale Sicherung aller Menschen (abgerufen am 2.3.2020) https://www.degrowth.info/de/dib/degrowth-in-bewegungen/grundeinkommensbewegung/
Ronald Blaschke: Keine nachhaltige ökologische Transformation ohne bedingungslose soziale Sicherung aller Menschen, https://www.degrowth.info/de/dib/degrowth-in-bewegungen/grundeinkommensbewegung/
