Proutist Economic Development
Rational Distribution
and
Maximum Utilization
Dada Maheshvarananda
 2004 Proutist Universal
The Claims of
Neoliberal Economists
• Economics is a value-free, objective science.
• Every country can achieve economic efficiency and
success through free market trade.
• Countries should produce cheaply a few special goods for
export.
• Countries should use foreign exchange to import whatever
they need.
• It is a right to maximize one's wealth.
• Any tax or law that diminishes property rights would
jeopardize the growth of society.
• Economics should not consider the question of fairness, or
whether or not everyone receives a just salary.
Dada Maheshvarananda
Proutist Universal
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The Question of Fairness
• In 2000, Citibank paid its director a salary with stock options of
$151 million.
• Disney paid their CEO US$575 million.
• Apple Computers paid CEO Steve Jobs $872 million, 30,000
times what the average Apple employee is paid each year!
• In Venezuela, Lorenzo Mendoza and family, owner of Polar
beverages, has a net worth of US$4.3 billion,
• Gustavo Cisneros and family, media baron, has US$4 billion.
(Forbes magazine, www.forbes.com)
• The wealth of the world’s 200 richest people more than doubled
during the last four years. Question: are you two times richer
today than you were four years ago?
• Neoliberal economists say these figures, the difference between
what the richest and poorest receive for their work, don’t matter
if the economy is healthy and growing.
Dada Maheshvarananda
Proutist Universal
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Dr. Amartya Sen of Calcutta won
the 1998 Nobel Prize in Economics,
because he had “restored an ethical
dimension to the discussion of vital
economic problems”.
P.R. Sarkar, a contemporary of Sen,
also focused on inequality, the
measurement of poverty, and on
how societies can make choices that
are both fair and efficient.
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Proutist Universal
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A Logical and Moral
Solution
to this Economic Question
• Prout asserts that the only justification for granting higher
income to a person is to motivate him or her to exert greater
effort to benefit society.
• “The surplus wealth should be distributed among meritorious
people according to the degree of their merit.”
• This surplus is used as an incentive to motivate people to render
greater service to society.
• It can be given as increased salary or as other benefits.
• Continuous effort will be needed to raise the economic standard
of the common people
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Proutist Universal
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The First Fundamental
Principle of Prout
• “No individual should be allowed to accumulate any
physical wealth without the clear permission or
approval of the collective body.”
• Because the physical resources of this planet are limited, the
hoarding or misuse of any resource would diminish opportunities
for others.
• Ceilings must be placed on salaries, inherited wealth, property
and land ownership.
• “Collective body” means society. Economic boards will have to
decide the maximum income and wealth. Board members
should be honest, with a sincere desire to serve for the welfare
of everyone.
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Proutist Universal
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The Second Fundamental
Principle of Prout
• “There should be maximum utilization and rational
distribution of all mundane, supramundane, and
spiritual potentialities of the universe.”
• This means to make the best use of the world’s
resources, including protecting the natural
environment.
• Based on the idea of “Cosmic Inheritance”, to share
the planet for the welfare of everyone, not just a few.
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Proutist Universal
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The Third Fundamental
Principle of Prout
• “There should be maximum utilization of the physical,
metaphysical and spiritual potentialities of the unit
and collective bodies of human society.”
• This concerns human resources.
• It values both individual and collective well-being.
• Waste of human resources occurs when people lack
education, or are denied opportunities to develop
their talents.
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Proutist Universal
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The Fourth Fundamental
Principle of Prout
• “There should be a proper adjustment amongst these
physical, metaphysical, mundane, supramundane
and spiritual utilizations.”
• Holistic development and equipose of both the
human being and society.
• Where there are competing demands for any
resource, the more rare and valuable quality should
be utilized.
Dada Maheshvarananda
Proutist Universal
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The Fifth Fundamental
Principle of Prout
• “The methods of utilization should vary in accordance
with the changes in time, space, and person, and the
utilization should be of a progressive nature.”
• Change is constant.
• The application of Prout models is not set in stone - the
principles though are time-enduring.
• Prout has dynamic principles that should be applied considering
the many special conditions of the location and culture.
• Technology can both create and destroy.
– the challenge is to choose wisely, directing research and
development for the long-term welfare of humanity and the
planet.
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Proutist Universal
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Good and happiness of all
The Progressive Utilisation Theory
is propounded for
the happiness and all-round welfare
of all.
PROUT
Dada Maheshvarananda
Proutist Universal
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