​The responsibility of the consumer in the free market economy ​ 

​The Earth Overshoot day in the year 2019 was on July 29.  

Short articles and messages in the media reported that the more than seven billion consumers on this planet had consumed on July 29 as many natural resources as the entire planet can reproduce in the complete year.  After less than a week the media did not give more information or comments about the EO day.   
 
The cause that the EO day happened and happens every year earlier in the year is the macro-economic practise of maintaining growth in the development of the free market economy.  The growth figures, which exist and can be expected for economies in specific areas, like the EU, are presented in the media with at least a weekly frequency.  
 
Growth implies to produce more.  However, production figures are incorporated in the growth statistics of countries only if that which had been produced was also sold.  Otherwise it is taken back by the supplier and can become waste.
 
What is sold is bought by someone, either a final consumer or an entrepreneur who makes products for the final consumer or a producer who supplies the entrepreneur. The final consumer is the one who digests goods and services in his personal life.  All of them eventually consume everything that is sold, because everything that is produced is made in a process to satisfy the demand of the final consumer. 
 
So, in order to keep the development of the free market economy growing, more than seven billion consumers have to continue consuming more of the limited resources of the planet.
 

 

Every intelligent person should know that it is not possible to continue consuming more of limited resources because they will become depleted.  

​To maintain growth in development is not an option any longer in the management of the free market economy, if mankind wants to survive. 
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​A solution 

Reward the consumer for maintaining ways of living that leave his environment unblemished.  
 
If all consumers spend all their money all the time only on goods and services that keep nature in perfect state, there would not be an ecological problem.  Mankind would be living in harmony with Nature.  
 
How to reward homo economicus in such a way that he spends his money while keeping his surroundings in a scientifically proven sound state?  
 
I created the “biosustainable” market on which the consumer gets a discount on everything he buys which is equal to 30% of the ecological value of the purchased product.  -  Imagine that you bought a shirt of 100€.  Assume that the producer has scientific proof that fifty percent of his costs of production were made for goods and services that kept nature sound.  You will then receive a discount of 30% of 50€, or 15€.  -  
 
I based the decision to open this market on three new concepts I founded in the science of economy. 

​Hoeilaart, March 18, 2020
 
​The three concepts are presented on  the three concepts  page. 

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