ESR Conversations Brown-bag Lunchtime Discussions

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ESR Conversations Brown-bag Lunchtime Discussions

• Introduction to
• Fall Semester
• 2006
• Joan Dixon

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History of CESR Conversations

• We began in June 2003 to find out who in the
  Tanner Building was doing anything related to
  economic self-reliance. We included a mix of
  theory and practice.
• We expanded our list of speakers to faculty from
  other departments on campus and practitioners
  doing ESR interventions (including guest speakers
  from out of state or outside the country.)
• The range of discussion topics has been
  fascinating and interdisciplinary
  microbusiness, agriculture, law, family finance,
  technology, community development, international,
  local, environmental, system wide perspectives,
  individual perspectives, and more.
• Last year we decided to bring some structure to
  the process. Rather than randomly scheduling
  facilitators, we wanted to build a common
  framework of understanding. We introduced a
  book of the month and collaborative discussions
  to help develop a shared theoretical base for ESR
  and development. We want to continue that effort
  this year.

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GOALS

• To build a more Collaborative Group of
  researchers, students and practitioners who are
  committed to participating regularly in the
  ongoing discussion and development of the theory
  and practice of economic self-reliance and
  development.
• To put more emphasis on Collaborative Research by
  introducing dynamic systems modeling into the
  discussion process.

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Innovations to enable a core group of people to
participate regularly

• New Location 120 TNRB a tech room
• Record the sessions and post them on the
  selfreliance.byu.edu website
• Better documentation
• Build connections between discussions
• Those who cant attend can still access the
  information from the discussions

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Innovations to facilitate more collaborative
discussion and analysis

• Introduce dynamic systems modeling into the
  discussion process.
• BOGGSATWE Bunch of Guys and Gals Sitting Around
  Talking With Excel

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Continue being a forum for bringing theory and
practice together

• Book of the Month
• Guest Speakers
• Practitioner Case Studies

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Book of the Month Selections

• September 29 The Logic of Failure by Dorner.
  Don Adolphson selected this book to help us
  understand the use of computer modeling in
  examining decision-making. (It relates to the
  process of our collaborative discussion of ESR
  theory and practice)
• October 20 or 27 The Nature of Economies by
  Jane Jacobs. (This book is wonderful for
  conceptualizing how economic processes and
  development work in on all levels in an
  ecological/economic system.)
• December 1 The Mystery of Capital by Hernando
  DeSoto. (This book introduces important aspects
  of the extralegal or informal economy that
  have major implications for preventing or
  enabling economic self reliance.)

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Guest Speakers Practitioner Case Studies

• Oct 6 Curt Bassett (Recommended by Steve
  Gibson. He is from Princeton Social Capital and
  will speak on Program Related Investment)
• Oct 27 Thelma Caparas (We are waiting for
  confirmation from Robert Hokanson. She is from
  MEDF Philippines)
• Other Suggestions________________

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Introduction to Dynamic Systems Models

• Sept 22 Larry Walters
• Oct 13 Don Adolphson Building Dynamic Systems
  in Excel
• Dec 8 Summary of what we have figured out so
  far this semester about relating Dynamic Systems
  modeling to the theory and practice of ESR.

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Suggestions for November

• Nov 3
• Nov 10
• Jason Fairbourne Development Theories

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DiscussionDefinition of ESR

• Sufficient Resource Generation (Surplus)
• Managing Resources Well (Provident Living
• Economic Self-Reliance

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Discussion NotesThe Family as the Unit of
Analysis for ESR

• What insights can we apply to our understanding
  of Economic Self-Reliance from The Family A
  Proclamation to the World
• The family is central to the creators plan for
  the eternal destiny of his children
• The divine plan of happiness enables family
  relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave.
• Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children
  in love and righteousness, to provide for their
  physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to
  love and serve one another, to observe the
  commandments of God and to be law-abiding
  citizens wherever they live.
• Further, we warn that the disintegration of the
  family will bring upon individuals, communities
  and nations the calamities foretold by ancient
  and modern prophets.
• We call upon responsible citizens and officers of
  government everywhere to promote those measures
  designed to maintain and strengthen the family as
  the fundamental unit of society.

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Discussion NotesWhat motivates our interest in
ESR?

• Sarah On her mission in South Africa and
  Botswana, she saw people are crossing borders
  illegally in order to find a way to help their
  family survive. How can we help them survive in
  their own country?
• Alex He looked at the MBA program to make a lot
  of money for his family, but he wanted to help
  others. His experience as member of stake
  presidency helping good people solve economic
  problems motivated his interest in others. He
  chose the MPA program to find ideas for helping
  people in Brazil
• Ben His first exposure to struggling economic
  situations was in Brazil on his mission. There
  has to be a way to help people. Everyone has a
  job where he grew up. He went to Mozambique last
  summer with Care for Life and this summer to
  Kenya with Yehu bank. Now he is trying to absorb
  all he can. How does his training in accounting
  relate? We talked about the need for accountants
  in Mozambique.
• Margy She is reading the World is Flat. The
  premise of the book is that the world is
  flattening out because of technology and
  communication. The author tells his children to
  study because children in India and China are
  starving for their jobs. How do we prepare
  children to function in a different economy? How
  do we bring global concepts to the level of the
  family?
• Julie There is a long history of people trying
  to help the poor. The global economy presents a
  new opportunity for tools to be put into peoples
  hands. We need to focus on economic development
  rather than giving bandaids for short term needs.
  Enabling benefits to be more equitably spread.
  ESR rather than relief.
• Scott He served in Bolivia on his mission. It
  was frustrating to see the lack of opportunities
  that people have even they are willing to work
  hard. He wants to help them have opportunities
  jobs, health care.
• Brad Family economic self-reliance and how
  families interact with one another. This should
  be a model of how we should interact between
  countries and do interventions.