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Abstract
A dramatic change has taken place in the dominant paradigm of economic
discussion. Cold War rhetoric has been replaced by a renewed debate between
two old antagonists: competition between conflicting private interests and a
consensual approach that emphasizes shared interests. Competitive capitalism
stresses individual initiative and private rights, concentrates on the growth of
wealth, and tends to ignore social conditions. Consensual economics uses a
communal or holistic approach, gives priority to the public interest, and regards
the quality of life as more important than wealth. Guilds and kibbutzim are
prominent examples of that consensual approach, and there is much to be
learned from their experience.