Liberated Gift Money
by Rosario Gabrielli
Between September 19th and 21st of this year, 100 years after the first World Power Conference, the Youth Section and the World Goetheanum Association are hosting an international conference, titled “Working for Freedom and the Common Good” about global economic cooperation and peace. As a foundational step, we held a series of pre-events designed to delve into key topics and lay the groundwork for the conversation we hope to foster during the conference. These pre-events allowed us to explore four different topics: the decommodifying of land, gift money, rethinking ownership, and true price.
On June 25th, in collaboration with Kelley Buhles, who was Senior Director at RSF Social Finance, we explored the topic of liberating gift money. Through a study group, we examined Rudolf Steiner's lectures on “Rethinking Economics,” where we observed purchase, loan, and gift money. We identified purchase money as that which involves an exchange between buyer and seller, rooted in transactions. Loan money, on the other hand, involves a relationship between lender and borrower, where the value is influenced by the actions taken with the received loan. Gift money stands apart with its unique quality, the main goal is neither an exchange nor the expectation of a return on investment.
In our society, there is an excess of capital that remains underutilized and congested. Transforming this stagnant capital into gift capital is essential for sustaining sectors devoted to cultural and spiritual endeavors. According to Rudolf Steiner, gift money is the most productive form of money. Unlike transactional money, which involves exchanges or attempts to secure a win, gift money thrives when it flows freely and without expectations of return. When gift money is constrained by expectations, it loses its essence and resembles a purchase or an investment.
Gift money fosters a sense of connection, trust, responsibility, and community, enriching both the giver and the receiver. True liberated gift money is given without strings attached, enabling capital to create value beyond the confines of traditional economic frameworks. It promotes innovative solutions, supports social enterprises and ultimately nurtures social, economic and ecological well-being.
But what is gift money? How does it feel different from other ways of money flow? What role does gift money play in the current global economy?
These were some of the questions we explored during our online meetings. We discussed these topics which are deeply embedded in our society affecting not only the economic system but every aspect of our lives. In facing these facets of our economy and society we are required to make changes in order to realize the liberation of gift money.
Gift money is closely intertwined with other subjects explored in our pre-events, such as the decommodification of land and rethinking ownership and capital. For instance, consider how investments in land often drive-up prices and generate inequality. This process can overshadow the fundamental notion that, like our natural resources, the concept of gifting should be foundational. Land, in its essence, is a gift from nature, not a commodity to be traded for profit.
Rethinking ownership and capital require us to acknowledge that many of our resources and assets were originally gifts—whether from nature or from previous generations. To realign our economic practices with this understanding, we need to challenge our traditional paradigms that prioritize profit over the well-being of all of us.
Making liberated gift money a reality involves fostering a cultural shift. We need to recognize and embrace the value of giving without expecting a direct return, promoting practices that encourage support and social equality.
By asking ourselves these questions, delving into diverse topics, and sharing our experiences, we aim to bring this subject into light during our September conference. While maintaining a broader perspective and considering global cooperation and peace, we aim to imagine how might a World Economic Conference look like, in alignment with the vision that D.N. Dunlop once aspired to create.