An economic model for the future

The Economy for the Common Good (ECG) is an alternative economic system built on values that promote the needs of the entire population. It is a tool for economic, political, and social change – a bridge to a better future.

Also we want to give our best for a better prersent and future. That's why we established a common good report.
We started in February 2015 to write the balance sheet and in July of the same year we completed with the report. We worked out the balance sheet participating at several workshops, then we made a peer evaluation in our group and finally we got a certification from outside.
Our report is accessible to everyone and you can donwload it here, at the moment only in german (the english version will follow):
Common Good Report (PDF)                         Common Good Report (Word)

Drawing up a Common Good Report (CGR) – what does it entail, what is it good for, how do I do it?

What does it entail?
Companies (private and public, non-profit and profit-oriented, large and small, from all sectors) use the Common Good Balance Sheet to measure their contribution to the common good of a democratic society. In concrete terms, it gives an account of the degree to which the company fulfills the five most important constitutional values of democratic states: human dignity, solidarity, sustainability, justice and democracy. In making this assessment, it can obtain a maximum of 1.000 Common Good points, which can later appear on the packaging of its products (where available) in the form of a five-color Common Good traffic light. The better the Common Good balance is, the greater the legal advantages for this company should be in the future, with these ranging from lower value-added tax rates and customs tariffs to preferential treatment in public procurement.

What is it good for?
Drawing up a Common Good Balance Sheet offers the following advantages:
Pioneer role: The balance-sheet companies participate actively in implementing an alternative economic system.
Purpose-driven: Engaging with the Economy of the Common Good can help an organization rediscover its own meaning and raison d’être, asking itself “What is the purpose of the company and how does it contribute to the common good?”.
Organizational development: The ethical 360°-view creates awareness for what companies do in concrete terms and how they can live a higher measure of responsibility and dedication to values in every area.
Assessment and control of status quo: The Common Good Report (CGR) documents the current “ethical status quo”. Through peer evaluation or external audit, the company gains the perspective of a critical outsider.
Transparency in regard to all stakeholder groups: A Common Good Balance Sheet offers comprehensive insights into a company and can help it acquire new customers and new employees.
Network and synergies: In drawing up its report, a company gains access to a network of “like-minded” individuals and organizations and can cooperate with them comprehensively, including everything from sharing know-how to granting or receiving loans or even creating their own local currency.

How do I do it?
In the CGR the common good is described as lived in practice on the basis of 17 indicators. The guiding question for each one is: “How do I live the value in my encounters with stakeholders? What concrete measures are taken in my company to achieve this?”.
In answering these questions, the status quo should be described as is, beyond concrete gradations.

Points
Every contribution the company makes towards the common good which extends beyond legal obligations is evaluated positively using a point system. For this evaluation we simply use a percentage of what we fulfill. Exemplary companies receive a maximum of 1000 points. To give you an initial orientation: conventional companies would be given somewhere between 0 and 100 points and the most advanced ones to date have received between 600 and 700 points. The goal is to achieve continuous development in small steps, i.e. a “creeping” transformation of the company from an “I”-orientation to a “we”-orientation.