Civil Associations (as published in A Survey of Sustainable Development)
Author(s)
Bruyn, Severyn T.
Abstract
In this chapter it is argued that the internationalization of social costs is an activity performed best by associations in the private sector. Public standards for fair competition, safety, health and transparency can be established in associations where members agree on rules of the game. As this rule-making activity develops, the private economy should become a more public affair where essential norms are held in common and exchange systems are designed to be as open as possible. There are three proposed points for the reader to consider: 1) Government cannot regulate the conduct of millions of national and global firms; 2) Corporate competition costs too much to regulate by government alone (that is, without civil associations); and 3) Civil associations are a frontier for a free-market economy by increasing the market’s competitiveness, efficiency, and profitability.
