An Introduction to Partnership Capitalism: Valuing All We Are

Have you ever known a person with lots of money who had no friends, or a person with no money whose basic needs were mostly taken care of? If yes, then you have observed the phenomenon I am pondering and which I call “Partnership Capitalism.” I see it as a guidepost for those of us living with the reality of the Financial Capitalism of the 21st century, and—perhaps—as a way to work our way out of the seething anger and hopelessness that have become the hallmarks of so much of our present day.

We are born into this world with varying degrees of three kinds of assets, or “capital,” if you will: financial, human, and social. Some of us start with trust funds, but most of us do not. All of us start out with “human” capital—what some term “what God gave us.” For some, that is intellect or humor or dashing good looks; for others, it may be athleticism or another extraordinary characteristic that determines the course of our life’s events. As an infant, it depends on how much “social” capital we are born with—for example, adults who are willing to nurture us—that determines whether our human capital will be used to its fullest.

However, in our modern-day economy, when one hears the word “capital,” one most immediately thinks of “financial” and the well-being that flows from having enough money. Indeed, it is often questioned in an accusatory way if someone without financial well-being is somehow not starving or living in squalor. One forgets that social and human capital often play a role in keeping us from being at the mercy of a lack of financial wealth.

In exploring Partnership Capitalism, I am setting forth a proposition that we create a system that quantifies our human and social capital. Examples could include a local store that gives us a percentage off or a credit union that gives us a better rate because we volunteer in our community.

I do not pretend to have all the answers, but it seems to me that much of the frustration today stems from the fact that our exclusive measure of capital within the financial realm leaves most of us feeling unvalued for much of what we do and who we are. As the millionaires have become billionaires and, for now, trillionaires, rather than pretending any of us will catch up to that, it is about creating a system that actually measures the true value of every human. We may find that the ultra-wealthy are not as wealthy as they seem, and the rest of us are far richer than we realize.

I will eventually be inviting others to join in this discussion through a paid subscription that will operate under the principles of Partnership Capitalism. For now, though, I seek your curiosity.