Leaving no one behind: Can the Economy of Francesco challenge the status quo?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7433/s126.2025.03Keywords:
humanistic management, transformative communities of practice, relational goods, corporate social responsibility, economy of francescoAbstract
As behavioral and experimental economics demonstrate, interpersonal aspects are relevant to economic decisions. This paper aims to study the function of relational goods in transformational practices. We investigate what key elements should underpin the consumption of relational goods in organizations to foster transformation and challenge the unsustainability of the status quo. We analyze the Economy of Francesco (EoF) movement to study what elements generate cooperative choices for the common good when relational goods are consumed. In addition, potential research contributions are proposed to support the development of new research avenues in the field.
References
Abbett, E., Coldham, A., & Whisnant, R. (2010). Organizational culture and the success of corporate sustainability initiatives: An empirical analysis using the competing values framework. http://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/69230
Bansal, D., Rajendran, A., & Singhi, S. (2014). Newly diagnosed immune thrombocytopenia: Update on diagnosis and management. Indian Journal of Pediatrics, 81(10), 1033–1041. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-013-1217-2
Barasch, A., Berman, J. Z., & Small, D. A. (2016). When Payment Undermines the Pitch: On the Persuasiveness of Pure Motives in Fund-Raising. Psychological Science, 27(10), 1388–1397. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797616638841
Becchetti, L., & Cermelli, M. (2018). Civil economy: Definition and strategies for sustainable well-living. International Review of Economics, 65(3), 329–357. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12232-018-0299-6
Becchetti, L., Pelligra V., & Taurino, S.F. (2015). Other-Regarding Preferences and Reciprocity: Insights from Experimental Findings and Satisfaction Data, Working Paper CRENoS 201514, Centre for North South Economic Research, University of Cagliari and Sassari, Sardinia.
Becchetti, L., Pelloni, A., & Rossetti, F. (2008). Relational Goods, Sociability, and Happiness. Kyklos, 61(3), 343–363. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6435.2008.00405.x
Bergoglio, J. M. (2014). Esortazione Apostolica Evangelii Gaudium del Santo Padre Francesco ai vescovi ai presbiteri e ai diaconi alle persone consacrate e ai fedeli laici sull’annuncio del vangel nel mondo attuale. Libreria Editrice Vaticana, per i testi del Papa.
Bergoglio, J. M. (2020). Lettera Enciclica Fratelli Tutti del Santo Padre Francesco sulla Fraternità e l’Amicizia Sociale. Libreria Editrice Vaticana, per i testi del Papa. https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/it/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20201003_enciclica-fratelli-tutti.html
Briscese, G., Feltovich, N., & Slonim, R. L. (2021). Who benefits from corporate social responsibility? Reciprocity in the presence of social incentives and self-selection. Games and Economic Behavior, 126, 288–304. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geb.2021.01.005
Bruni, L. (2008). Per una economia capace di felicità Spunti di riflessione e provocazioni teoriche. http://www.flars.net/edc/testi/Luigino-testi.pdf
Bruni, L. (2010). L’impresa civile: Una via italiana all’economia di mercato. Università Bocconi Editore.
Bruni, L. (2011). Felicità e beni relazionali. http://www.journaldumauss.net/IMG/pdf/ FELICITa-beni_rel.pdf
Bruni, L. (2017a). La felicità pubblica: Economia civile e political economy a confronto. Vita e pensiero.
Bruni, L. (2017b). On the Concept of Economia Civile and “Felicitas Publica”: A Comment on Federico D’Onofrio. Journal of the History of Economic Thought, 39(2), 273–279. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1053837216000237
Bruni, L., Gilli, M., & Pelligra, V. (2008). Reciprocity: Theory and facts: Introduction to the special issue. International Review of Economics, 55(1–2), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12232-008-0042-9
Bruni, L., & Sugden, R. (2000). Moral canals: Trust and social capital in the work of Hume, Smith and Genovesi. Economics and Philosophy, 16(1), 21–45. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0266267100000122
Bruni, L., & Sugden, R. (2006). Fraternity: A moral understanding of market relationships. https://www.oikonomia.it/index.php/it/oikonomia-2007/giugno-2007/618-fraternity-a-moral-understanding-of-market-relationships
Bruni, L., & Zamagni, S. (2004a). Economia civile. Il Mulino.
Bruni, L., & Zamagni, S. (2004b). Economia civile. Efficienza, equità, felicità pubblica. Il Mulino.
Bruni, L., & Zamagni, S. (2009). Dizionario di economia civile (Città Nuova).
Bruni, L., & Zamagni, S. (2013). Handbook on the Economics of Reciprocity and Social Enterprise. Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781849804745
Bruni, L., & Zarri, L. (2007). La grande illusione. False relazioni e felicita’ nelle economie di mercato contemporanee (AICCON Working Papers No. 39–2007). Associazione Italiana per la Cultura della Cooperazione e del Non Profit.
Burbano, V. C. (2016). Social Responsibility Messages and Worker Wage Requirements: Field Experimental Evidence from Online Labor Marketplaces. Organization Science, 27(4), 1010–1028. https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2016.1066
Chaudhry, S. J., & Loewenstein, G. (2019). Thanking, apologizing, bragging, and blaming: Responsibility exchange theory and the currency of communication. Psychological Review, 126(3), 313.
Chen, Y. (2011). Green organizational identity: Sources and consequence. Management Decision, 49(3), 384–404. https://doi.org/10.1108/00251741111120761
Choi, J. (2006). A Motivational Theory of Charismatic Leadership: Envisioning, Empathy, and Empowerment. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies, 13(1), 24–43. https://doi.org/10.1177/10717919070130010501
Cooperrider, D. L., & Godwin, L. N. (2011). Positive Organization Development. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199734610.013.0056
Culham, T. E. (2013). Ethics education of business leaders: Emotional intelligence, virtues, and contemplative learning. IAP -- Information Age Publishing, Inc.
Daim, T. U., Ha, A., Reutiman, S., Hughes, B., Pathak, U., Bynum, W., & Bhatla, A. (2012). Exploring the communication breakdown in global virtual teams. International Journal of Project Management, 30(2), 199–212. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2011.06.004
Deloitte. (2021). Global Marketing Trends 2021. https://www2.deloitte.com/it/it/pages/strategy-operations/articles/global-marketing-trends-2021---deloitte-italy---deloitte-digital.html
di Giovanni Olivi, P. (1980). Tractatus de empitionibus et venditionibus, de usuris, de restitutionibus. In Un trattato di economia politica francescana: “De empitionibus et venditionibus, de usuris, de restitutionibus (G. Todeschini). Istituto Storico Italiano per il Medio Evo.
Di Mauro, N. (2013). I Monti di Pietà nel XV secolo. Effatà Editrice. https://editrice.effata.it/libro/9788874028023/i-monti-di-pieta-nel-xv-secolo/
Donati, P. (2005). La sociologia relazionale: Una prospettiva sulla distinzione umano/non umano nelle scienze sociali. Nuova Umanità, XXVII (2005/1)(157), 97–122.
Durlauf, S. N., & Fafchamps, M. (2004). Social Capital. NBER Working Paper, 10485.
Ellenberg, J. H. (1994). Selection bias in observational and experimental studies. Statistics in medicine 13.5‐7 (1994): 557-567.
Elfenbein, D. W., Fisman, R., & Mcmanus, B. (2012). Charity as a Substitute for Reputation: Evidence from an Online Marketplace. The Review of Economic Studies, 79(4), 1441–1468. https://doi.org/10.1093/restud/rds012
Ertz, M., Durif, F., & Arcand, M. (2019). A conceptual perspective on collaborative consumption. AMS Review, 9(1–2), 27–41. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13162-018-0121-3
Fehrler, S., & Kosfeld, M. (2014). Pro-social missions and worker motivation: An experimental study. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 100, 99–110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2014.01.010
Fehrler, S., & Przepiorka, W. (2013). Charitable giving as a signal of trustworthiness: Disentangling the signaling benefits of altruistic acts. Evolution and Human Behavior, 34(2), 139–145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2012.11.005
Fink, L. (2018). A Fundamental Reshaping of Finance. https://www.blackrock.com/corporate/investor-relations/larry-fink-ceo-letter
Gardner, G. T., & Stern, P. C. (1996). Environmental problems and human behavior. Allyn & Bacon.
Genovesi, A. (1779). La Logica per gli giovanetti. Remondini.
Genovesi, A. (1824a). Lezioni di commercio o sia di economia civile. Società Tipografica dei Classici Italiani.
Genovesi, A. (1824b). Opere scelte (Vol. 3). Società Tipografica dei Classici Italiani.
Genovesi, A. (1973). Della Diocesina o Sia della Filosofia Del Giusto e Dell’onesto (1766). Marzorati.
Gittell, R., & Videl, A. (1998). Community Organizing: Building Social Capital as a Development Strategy Community. SAGE Publications, Inc. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781452220567
Greve, A., Benassi, M., & Sti, A. D. (2010). Exploring the contributions of human and social capital to productivity. International Review of Sociology, 20(1), 35–58. https://doi.org/10.1080/03906701003643261
Grover, S. L. (2014). Unraveling respect in organization studies. Human Relations, 67(1), 27–51. https://doi.org/10.1177/0018726713484944
Gui, B. (1987). PRODUCTIVE PRIVATE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS: A conceptual framework. Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, 58(4), 415–434. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8292.1987.tb00872.x
Gui, B. (2000). Beyond Transactions: On the Interpersonal Dimension of Economic Reality. Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, 71(2), 139–169.
Gupta, J., & Vegelin, C. (2016). Sustainable development goals and inclusive development. International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, 16(3), 433–448. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10784-016-9323-z
Harrison, D. A., & Klein, K. J. (2007). What's the difference? Diversity constructs as separation, variety, or disparity in organizations. Academy of Management Review, 32(4), 1199–1228.
Hedblom, D., Hickman, B., & List, J. (2019). Toward an Understanding of Corporate Social Responsibility: Theory and Field Experimental Evidence (No. w26222). National Bureau of Economic Research. https://doi.org/10.3386/w26222
Herington, M. J., & van de Fliert, E. (2018). Positive Deviance in Theory and Practice: A Conceptual Review. Deviant Behavior, 39(5), 664–678. https://doi.org/10.1080/01639625.2017.1286194
Honneth, A. (1995). The struggle for recognition: A moral grammar for social conflict. (J. Anderson, Trans.). Polity Press.
Hunter, J. A., Platow, M. J., Moradi, S., Banks, M., Hayhurst, J., Kafka, S., Iversen, G., Scobie, O., Scarf, D., Stringer, M., O'Brien, K. S., & Ruffman, T. (2017). Subjective belonging and in-group favoritism. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 73, 136–146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2017.06.010
Iazzolino, G., Chiappetta, S., & Chiappetta, F. (2018). Relational Capital and financial performance: An empirical analysis on a sample of Italian firms. Problems and Perspectives in Management, 16(1), 245–258.
Isen, A. M., & Baron, R. A. (1991). Positive affect as a factor in organisational behaviour. Research in Organisational Behaviour, 13(1), 1–53.
Johnson, M. W. (2010). Seizing the white space: Business model innovation for growth and renewal. Harvard Business Press.
Kajackaite, A., & Sliwka, D. (2017). Social responsibility and incentives in the lab: Why do agents exert more effort when principals donate? Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 142, 482–493. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2017.08.013
Kanov, J. M. (2004). Compassion in organizational life. American Behavioral Scientist, 47(6), 808–827.
Koppel, H., & Regner, T. (2014). Corporate Social Responsibility in the work place: Experimental evidence from a gift-exchange game. Experimental Economics, 17(3), 347–370. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10683-013-9372-x
Koppel, H., & Regner, T. (2019). What drives motivated agents: The 'right' mission or sharing it with the principal? Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics, 83, 101463. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socec.2019.101463
Kostera, M., & Pirson, M. (Eds.). (2017). Dignity and the organization. Palgrave Macmillan.
Laszlo, C. (2017). Quantum Leadership—A Primer [LinkedIn]. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/quantum-leadership-primer-chris-laszlo/
Laszlo, C. (2019). Strengthening Humanistic Management. Humanistic Management Journal. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41463-019-00055-9
Lesser, E. L., & Storck, J. (2001). Communities of practice and organizational performance. IBM Systems Journal, 40(4), 831–841. https://doi.org/10.1147/sj.404.0831
Liebowitz, J. (2010). The role of HR in achieving a sustaibility culture. Journal of Sustainable Development, 3(4), 50–57. https://doi.org/10.55397jsd.v3n4p50
Likoko, E., & Kini, J. (2017). Inclusive business—A business approach to development. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 24, 84–88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cosust.2017.03.001
Lomastro Tognato, F. (1996). Legge di Dio e Monti di Pietà: Marco da Montegallo 1425-1496. Fondazione Monte di Pietà di Vicenza.
Martinelli, P., & Melone, M. (2015). “La grazia di lavorare”: Lavoro, vita consacrata, francescanesimo. EDB, Edizioni Dehoniane Bologna.
Martino, M. G., & Müller, C. (2018). Reciprocity in the Civil Economy: A Critical Assessment. Journal for Markets and Ethics, 6(1), 63–74. https://doi.org/10.2478/jome-2018-0027
Mattson, D. J., & Clark, S. G. (2011). Human dignity in concept and practice. Policy Sciences, 44(4), 303–319. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11077-010-9124-0
Meadows, D. H. (1997). Places to Intervene in a System. Whole Earth Winter.
Meneghini, V. (1974). Bernardino da Feltre e i Monti di Pietà. LIEF edizioni.
Migheli, M. (2011). Capabilities and Functionings: The Role of Social Capital for Accessing New Capabilities. Review of Political Economy, 23(1), 133–142. https://doi.org/10.1080/09538259.2011.526297
Migheli, M. (2012a). Assessing Trust through Social Capital? A Possible Experimental Answer. American Journal of Economics and Sociology, 71(2), 298–327.
Migheli, M. (2012b). Il valore degli “intangibili” e del capitale relazionale per un’impresa: Inquadramento teorico, evidenze empiriche, analisi econometriche. Fondazione Adriano Olivetti Working Paper on Knowledge Society, 2.
Mohr, B. J., & Magruder Watkins, J. (2002). The Essentials of Appreciative Inquiry: A Roadmap for Creating Positive Futures Bernard. Google Books. https://www.amazon.it/Essentials-Appreciative-Inquiry-Creating-Positive/dp/1883823579
Newman, G. E., & Cain, D. M. (2014). Tainted Altruism: When Doing Some Good Is Evaluated as Worse Than Doing No Good at All. Psychological Science, 25(3), 648–655. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797613504785
Nigri, G., Del Baldo, M., & Agulini, A. (2020). Governance and accountability models in Italian certified benefit corporations. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.1949
Pelligra, V. (2006). Trust, Reciprocity and Institutional Design: Lessons from Behavioural Economics [Working Paper].
Perron, G. M., Côté, R. P., & Duffy, J. F. (2006). Improving environmental awareness training in business. Journal of Cleaner Production, 14(6–7), 551–562. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2005.07.006
Pirson, M. (2017). A Humanistic Perspective for Management Theory: Protecting Dignity and Promoting Wellbeing. Journal of Business Ethics. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-017-3755-4
Pór, G., & van Bukkum, E. (2004). Liberating the innovation value of communities of practice (CommunityIntelligence Ltd.).
Pouw, N., Bush, S., & Mangnus, E. (2019). Editorial overview: Inclusive business for sustainability. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 41, A1–A4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cosust.2019.12.002
Ramus, C. A., & Steger, U. (2000). The Roles of Supervisory Support Behaviors and Environmental Policy in Employee "Ecoinitiatives" at Leading-Edge European Companies. Academy of Management Journal, 43(4), 605–626. https://doi.org/10.5465/1556357
Reis, H. T., Collins, W. A., & Berscheid, E. (2000). The relationship context of human behavior and development. Psychological bulletin. Psychological Bulletin, 126(6), 844.
Screpanti, E., & Zamagni, S. (2005). An Outline of The History of Economic Thought. Oxford University Press.
Smith Adam. (1901). Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations. Forgotten Books. http://www.vlebooks.com/vleweb/product/openreader?id=none&isbn=9780259705949
Society for Human Resource Management, & Business for Social Responsibility. (2011). Advancing Sustainability: HR's Role. Society for Human Resource Management. https://books.google.it/books?id=u22TnQAACAAJ
Solomon, R. (1992). Ethics and Excellence: Cooperation and Integrity in Business. Oxford University Press.
Solow, R. M. (2000). Notes on social capital and economic performance. In Social Capital: A Multifaceted Perspective. P. Dasgupta & I.Serageldin.
Todeschini, G. (2004). Ricchezza francescana. Dalla povertà volontaria alla società di mercato. Il Mulino.
Tsao, F. C., & Laszlo, C. (2019). Quantum leadership: New consciousness in business. Stanford Business Books, an imprint of Stanford University Press.
Uhlaner, C. J. (1989). "Relational goods" and participation: Incorporating sociability into a theory of rational action. Public Choice, 62(3), 253–285. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02337745
Vallaster, C., Lindgreen, A., & Maon, F. (2012). Strategically Leveraging Corporate Social Responsibility: A Corporate Branding Perspective. California Management Review, 54(3), 34–60. https://doi.org/10.1525/cmr.2012.54.3.34
vom Brocke, J., Simons, A., Niehaves, B., Riemer, K., Plattfaut, R., & Cleven, A. (2009). Reconstructing the Giant: On the Importance of Rigour in Documenting the Literature Search Process. http://www.alexandria.unisg.ch/Publikationen/67910
Walker, C. (2020). Inclusive Leadership in INGO, Multinational Teams: Learning, Listening and Voicing in "Attentive Space" [ProQuest Dissertations Publishing. 27835708., Trinity International University]. https://search.proquest.com/openview/d70a8219d6b7fd31d02bf7e2e7e3c687/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y
Webster, J., & Watson, R. (2002). Analyzing the Past to Prepare for the Future: Writing a Literature Review. MIS Quarterly, 26. https://doi.org/10.2307/4132319
Weger, H., Castle Bell, G., Minei, E. M., & Robinson, M. C. (2014). The Relative Effectiveness of Active Listening in Initial Interactions. International Journal of Listening, 28(1), 13–31. https://doi.org/10.1080/10904018.2013.813234
Wirtz, D., Karajan, N., & Haasdonk, B. (2015). Surrogate modeling of multiscale models using kernel methods: Kernel Surrogate Multiscale Models. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, 101(1), 1–28. https://doi.org/10.1002/nme.4767
Woolcock, M. (2001). Microenterprise and social capital: A framework for theory, research, and policy. The Journal of Socio-Economics, 30(2), 193.
Zamagni, S. (1995). The economics of altruism. Hants: E. Elgar.
Zamagni, S. (2006). L’economia come se la persona contasse: Verso una teoria economica relazionale.
Zamagni, S., & Bruni, L. (2015). L’ economia civile: Un’altra idea di mercato. Il Mulino.
