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Commentary – The awful vices of crises

By Luigino Bruni

Published in Avvenire on May 12, 2013

Sloth is becoming a social disease. It affects people's character, spirit and will-power. This vice, despite being pervasive in our society, is not taken seriously. It is usually considered an old, outdated word and not necessarily a negative human trait. Why would one regard discouragement, sadness and boredom as sins?

A presentation on the EoC was held during a Justitia et Pax's event.

By Sibilla van Haastrecht

The event organized by Justitia et Pax was called: “The economy for a better society”. It took place in Stockholm in the evening of April 25th. 27 people from various backgrounds participated in the meeting. Mr. Madeleine Fredell O.P. (Swedish Justitia et Pax Secretary-General) opened the evening. He spoke about the world's present challenges from the perspective of the encyclical Pacem in Terris (1963). Next, Br. Henrik Alberis O.P. (European Justitia et Pax Secretary-General) introduced three economic documents published by the Church which were inspired by the encyclical Caritas in Veritate (2009).

The XXXI Meeting on the Economy of Communion in Argentina was held 26-28 April.

By Carolina Carbonell

During the last weekend of April at the Mariapolis Lia Convention Center in O'Higgins, Buenos Aires, the participants in the XXXI Meeting on the Economy of Communion shared their thoughts about the ways to improve businesses according to the paradigm of communion. They were around a hundred people including entrepreneurs, workers, students and EoC sympathizers. They came from all over Argentina and abroad. Besides Esperanza and Gustavo from Mexico, 15 people came from Paraguay and a small group from Uruguay.

Commentary – The market and human relationships.

By Luigino Bruni

Published in Avvenire on May 5, 2013

Movie theaters are not only businesses but a unique means to build relationships. However, lately a great number of them have had to close down due to the crisis. Unfortunately, they have been replaced by goods that better respond to the demands of today's consumeristic, lonely individuals. Some believe this change is a result of the law of the market. I agree that the market does sell goods against loneliness, and that the demand for such goods was created by the market itself. However, only a sector of the market.

Commentary – Italy and today's May Day celebration.

By Luigino Bruni

Pubblished in Avvenire on May 1, 2013

This year May Day is celebrated with mixed emotions. Today we celebrate labor (which is always a good thing) while remembering its absence. Those who lost their jobs and the young people unable to find work may shed tears or even fall into depression while others rejoice. The youth implore us, more than ever, to listen to them and stand by their side. Nevertheless, we should celebrate labor since the ability of festivities to lift people's sprits becomes even more precious during hard times. Otherwise, people begin to feel like the Hebrews in the desert and crave the 'onions' they used to receive as slaves in Egypt.

Commentary – Genovesi's call to Italy (and South of Europe): Be yourself!

By Luigino Bruni

Published in Avvenire on April 28, 2013

The connected, interdependent networks making up the market economy can bring about both wonderful and terrifying outcomes. In times of prosperity, wealth is distributed among everyone, while during depressions problems are interconnected and amplified; the virtue of interdependence is replaced by a vicious cycle of people inflicting losses on one another. Customers don't pay, banks don't loan, and suppliers don't receive payment and are unable to pay their own debts. This process, like a maelstrom, spirals ever downwards swallowing factories, jobs, houses, lives.