While the latter explores competing imaginaries of economic solidarity in contemporary Senegal, my EoF fellowship research has allowed me to situate current developments within a longer history of local economic thought, by excavating local ideas around “alternative” and “solidarity” economies, and the way that economic thinkers have drawn on anthropology and theology. A particularly interesting figure in this regard is Mamadou Dia.

Imagine you are eighteen, finishing high school in France. You have to pick which university to apply to. Two are open to you, offering the same field of study. But under different conditions.

Why do our existing economic frameworks keep failing to address what digital platforms are doing to people, markets, and the planet? And what would a different, common-sense framework look like?

Many people have encountered situations where food remains after a meal. Once everyone is full, households often face a choice: throw the remaining food away or continue eating it.

We tend to believe that good people make good economies. If only those who hold economic power were more conscientious, more responsible, more aware of the common good, the thinking goes, our systems would become fairer and more sustainable. This hope, while not wrong, is incomplete.

The article explores the theological foundations of the steward-ownership model and presents it as a possible alternative to dominant economic paradigms based on the primacy of private ownership, profit maximization, and short-term economic interests.