The economy

Small is beautiful says Schumacher based on Gandhian model of economics. Gandhi believed that every village needs to be self sufficient and also in simplicity of living and equipment. There is nothing better than simplicity and even Christ has said “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5). Simplicity is a difficult thing to achieve. Imagine living in a self sufficient village. Everyone knows the tailor, the blacksmith, the baker, and so on and social life happens without effort. Its good but does not suit everybody including me. I for one love the big city and the grandeur that comes from living in one. A big city demands not imposing limits on capability. But eliminating villages completely is also not working. In America, for example, independent carpenters no longer exist. To earn a living as a carpenter they need to work for some big company leading to diminishing creativity and innovation. In small Indian cities carpenters and masons work for a contractor. And soon contractors will become so powerful that individual carpenters will not survive. There really are only two models in economics, the city and the village. The Gandhian model perhaps is a little far fetched for the modern society but completeness of purpose is not. A good conscience and work ethics will save the day in my opinion.