In places like Naples you don’t survive without passion. Passion keeps you motivated and is a valuable currency in an economy short of cash. People connect and trade in passion, the only commodity in rich supply.
But passion doesn’t have any place in economic theory. Modern economies don’t measure it nor value it. I don’t recall any European directive on the subject. Passion is considered a distraction when it doesn’t harm rational choice. That leaves places like Naples ‘poor’.
Should social business ignore passion as well or could we utilize it to reinvigorate Naples?
I’m reading a new book – Race against the Machine by MIT reaserchers Eric Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee – arguing that in the future the industries with the lion share of GDP and main sources of employment will be technology – we know that – and care industry.
The rest of the economic activities will be replaced by computers. Well paid jobs will disappear: poor bankers and lawyers will be thrown into the street, perhaps campaigning in front of St Pauls.
Computers can replace humans in everything except for the very essential functions which keep all of us together: our bodies with their irrational emotions and passions. You wouldn’t shag a robot nor would you like to be taken care of by a computer when you are ill.
If MIT researchers are right, Naples could be the capital of the new economy. It has all the resources. The social innovation competion proved it to me and my last 3 days in town confirmed it.
Let me give you a story to illustrate my theory. Chris and I went to ISI, a cool art centre and restaurant in Chiaia neighborhood recommended by friends. One of the owners took sympathy and decided to spend some time chatting with us. When she found out that Chris had never seen the sea and vulcano Vesuvio, she forced us out of the restaurant and gave us a detailed map to see the most beautiful landscape in town. She even offered us drinks.
She may have lost two paying cutomers for dinner, but she gained two fans forever. We were so moved by her generosity, that Chris and I are already planning our next trip to Naples. This is the passion business.
The book is available on the Kindle only. If you don’t have aKindle, borrow one from a friend. You don’t want to miss the chance to survive the 21st century.
