Économie circulaire, systèmes d’échange locaux, monnaies locales

• David Hiez ^[1]
  1. [1] University of Luxembourg

     University of Luxembourg

     Luxemburgo

     
• Localización: Revue internationale de droit économique, ISSN 1010-8831, Vol 37, Nº. 3-4, 2023 (Ejemplar dedicado a: Démondialisation et remondialisation), págs. 23-39
• Idioma: francés
• Títulos paralelos:
  • Local Exchange Trading Systems, Local Currencies
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• Resumen
  • English

    The circular economy, the local currencies, and the local exchange trading systems (also named time banks) are very good evidence of the deglobalization. The circular economy is an ambiguous concept, since it can refer to a loose or exigent definition, as it appears when it is stated that it tackles climate change and other global challenges like biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution, by decoupling economic activity from the consumption of finite resources. Indeed, the decoupling itself can be a mere dream when it claims to maintain economic growth without pollution and other negative externalities. but the circular economy’s purpose can also be defined as the preservation of the biosphere to maintain its viability, for the human being at first. In such a conception, the circular economy is no more a try to find a solution, it is an alternative model in which the satisfaction of the immediate needs is not the first step. Local currencies exist for several decades and are present in all continents. Their common feature is to develop outside of the state and to be attached to a local area, but they cover many experiences, from an arrangement among businessmen to some alternative organization of activists. Local Exchange Trading Systems (LETS) are locally organized, economic organizations that allow the exchange of goods and services among group members. The groups use locally created units of value as currency which can be traded or bartered in exchange for goods or services. This currency is often counted in time, so they are often named time banks.These three mechanisms, all attached to the social and solidarity economy, are perfect examples of deglobalization. Existing at the time of globalization, they were during that period the expression of the opposition to globalization, and their new development and the increasing interest in their success is the evidence of the deglobalization. Their implication in that new trend appears through their two main features, which will be analyzed in the French jurisdiction.On one hand, these mechanisms are all locally rooted. This is obvious for the local currencies since of its name, but its local limitation can also be a condition for its validity. It is true also by essence in the LETS since the exchanges are possible among the members of a local community. It is more indirect for the circular economy because its local dimension flows only from the pollution related to long distance trading. This local anchoring may go further and rely on a constituted community. These characteristics are not reserved to these three institutions and some other could be joined, notably the renewable energy communities, created to enhance the development of renewable energy with the engagement of the citizens.But, on the other hand, this local aspect is insufficient to describe these realities as well as to relate them to deglobalization. Many local experiences fit perfectly with globalization, for example, the local development is based on a monoculture designed for international trading. On the contrary, the circular economy (at least in its more exigent conception), the local currencies and the LEST develop all an alternative way to run business and to have an economic activity necessary for the society. Far from the high competition and the maximization of profits as the basis for satisfying human needs, they rely on cooperation and limitation to preserve the biosphere. As such, they constitute a model alternative to capitalism and are likely to contribute to a new conception of the economy, more suitable to the requirements of the future.

  • français

    L’économie circulaire, les monnaies locales et les services d’échange locaux (SEL) sont de très bons exemples du mouvement de démondialisation. Concomitants à la mondialisation, ce n’est pas tant leur existence qui atteste d’un mouvement de démondialisation que leur développement, le regain d’intérêt qu’ils suscitent. Ils renvoient à la démondialisation à plusieurs titres. Au premier chef, ils partagent une dimension locale marquée, ce qui naturellement peut se rattacher à une relocalisation en rupture avec l’internationalisation désincarnée de la mondialisation. En outre, ils sont porteurs d’une conception de l’activité économique alternative à celle du capitalisme. Or la démondialisation est aussi une réaction aux excès du néo-libéralisme, la recherche d’autres équilibres entre le local et le global, et nul doute que l’économie circulaire, les monnaies locales et les SEL constituent des modèles qui contribuent à l’élaboration d’un nouvel ordre économique.