Economics of Mahaveera

Author(s): Mahapragna Acharya
Publisher: Adarsh Sahitya Sangh

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ECONOMICS OF MAHAVIRA
class of people which suffers from hunger, we will not expand factories and the factories will not work for the production of articles of luxury.
Necessity and Luxury Let us ponder over from the point of view of Economics. Two types of concepts would come before us -- one pertaining to necessities and the other to luxuries. Necessities are articles of primary needs, the availability of which does not give happiness and non-availability of which does. give unhappiness. Roti is a necessity. If it becomes available, there is no happiness; only the hunger would get satisfied, and when it is not available, there will be an amount of pain. When an article of luxury (for example, a cosmetic) becomes available, a person feels very happy, but when he does not get it, there is no pain. With the new formulation (of new Economics), if the principle that as long as primary needs do not get fulfilled, the articles of luxury will not be produced is adopted, then today's problems of hunger and unemployment would be solved to a large extent.
Difference between a Donor and a Donee Today, there is a great deal of discussion about co-operation. The developed countries are giving assistance to the developing countries. Apparently, this appears to be good, a point towards liberalisation, but in reality everybody knows that the difference between a donor and a donee perpetuates itself. A Sanskrit poet has beautifully expressed:
Datri yachakyoh bhedh kara-bhyamwa suchotam The taker's hand would remain at a lower level and the donor's hand will be at the higher level.
This position has to be accepted. Along with economic assistance, several terms, conditions and limitations are imposed that virtually a situation of economic slavery develops. Restrictions are imposed even on the use or transter of intellectual property.