I hae written on Interdependent co-arising (older blogs at the link) earlier. The concept simply means – we are all dependent on each other.
Those who want to know the concept in layman term follow this blog – interdependent co-arising example of a farmer.
Definintion of interdependent co-arising is below with a macro-economics example. In late 90’s the East Asian countries faced a very serious economic challenge of decades. The financial system came down like a house of cards. Dr Joseph Stiglitz – Economics Nobel Prize winner of 2001 – shares the concept of interdependent co-arising (dooming in otherwords) in his book – “Globalization and its discontent“. On Page 106-107 he invariably – and inadvertently perhaps – explains what is interdependent co-arising. Hope economists would understand this lesson, if not from the Buddha then from Dr Stiglitz.
Beggar-Thyself Policies
Of all the mistakes the IMF committed as the East Asian crisis spread from one conuntry to another in 1997 and 1998, one of the hardest to fathom was the Fund’s failure to recognize the important interactions amont the policeis pursued in the different countries. Contractionary policies in one country not only deepened that country’s economy but had adverse effects on its neighbors. By continuing to advocate contractionary policies the IMF exacerbated the contagion, the spread of the downturn from one country to the next. As each country weakened, it reduced its imports from its neighbors, thereby pulling its neighbors down.
The beggar-thy-neighbor policies of the 1930s are generally thought to have played an important role in the spread of the Great Depression. Each country hit by a downturn bolster its own economy by cutting back on exports and thus shifting consumer demands to its own products.A country would cut back on export by imposing tariffs and by making competitive devaluation of its currency, which made its own goods cheaper and others countries’ more expensive. Howeer, as each country cut back on imports it suceeded in “exporting” the economic downturn to its neighbors. Hence the term bagger-thy-neighbor.
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Solution to all these economic, social, personal, spiritual or other problems?
Its interdependent co-arising itself. We all need to help each other grow – grow the pie and share it well, if not equally!
4 Comments
rummuser · April 28, 2013 at 12:02 am
Pravin I am at an age where I find it difficult to generate the enthusiasm that you show for old wine in new bottles because, I have seen the world refusing to change and to the contrary speeding up the process of self destruction.
Just to explain why I am so cynical, I would draw your attention to the early pioneers in the systems theory and limits to growth phenomenon like Donella and Denis Meadows and Peter Senge. I think that you would be shocked to find that these pioneers tried to bring about sanity in a mad world and failed.
Economists have tried to use both approaches but for some strange reason have not yet been able to come up with a working model to solve many of today’s problems. There are as many pundits out there suggesting schools of thought as there are stars and not one of them has come up with something that will work. India fortunately, is a pavitra bhumi and is able to muddle along without too much upheaval thanks to a fairly independent Central Bank and a robust parallel economy.
The spiritual side of the subject leaves me unimpressed because, here too, our ancients have led the way 5000 years ago. You should read people like Wendy Doninger and Diana L Eck to understand our wisdom which unfortunately has to be learned in English from American authors.
On the other hand, there is an Indian author who you might like to explore in full Devdutt Patnaik.
I can wax eloquent on this subject but why should I reinvent the wheel? The names I have given you on this comment should keep you fully occupied for the rest of this calendar year if you really want to understand what I am trying to say.
Have I impressed you enough?
KRD Pravin · May 26, 2013 at 6:07 pm
I agree uncleji that I pour a lot of idealism and hope. But is that wrong? I think if we were very learned at the time of the Buddha, now we are again growing in knowledge. Perhaps after a few stumbling rides we would learn, we are learning.
You are right, we are reading ancient Indian things written in English by foreign authors. Fine, at least some learning should happen.
I’d want to remain eternal hopeful, enthusiastic and positive about a (many) solution.
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