Societal Business: The Revolution of Economics – The New Matrix Economy
1. The Turning Point: Why a Fundamentally New Economic Matrix is Inevitable
Our current way of doing business has brought humanity and the planet to a critical crossroads. Accumulating ecological crises, growing social inequality, and a profound erosion of meaning are not isolated phenomena but systemic symptoms of an economic order whose foundations have become fragile. An "economy that kills" – as Pope Francis succinctly put it – through its relentless logic of cost externalization, short-term profit maximization, and ignorance of natural life-support systems, can have no future. Cosmetic corrections and superficial adjustments fall short. What we need is a fundamental change at the deepest level of our economic thinking and action: the meta-level. From this deep insight into the necessity of a radical reorientation arises the vision of the New Matrix Economy, a transformative concept significantly developed by Dr Judith Annabella Voll and the Societal Business Think Tank. The New Matrix Economy is nothing less than a call to rethink and reshape economics from the ground up – for life.
2. The Old Matrix: Anatomy of a Destructive System
The "Old Matrix" of economics, which has shaped our world for decades, if not centuries, and whose dominant manifestation we know as global capitalism, is rooted in a set of core assumptions that are increasingly proving to be destructive and hostile to life:
- Greed as a legitimate driver: The incessant increase of profit and material growth is fetishized as the primary goal and measure of success, regardless of collateral damage.
- Systematic externalization: Social and ecological costs are not considered an integral part of economic calculation but are consciously or unconsciously shifted onto the general public, vulnerable groups, future generations, and the planet.
- Reductionist thinking: A short-sighted, fragmented view of problems and solutions that ignores systemic interconnections and long-term consequences. Humans become "human resources," nature a "raw material depot."
- Dogma of perpetual competition: A "war of all against all" that undermines cooperation and solidarity and leads to a ruthless exploitation of humans and nature.
The devastating consequences of this Old Matrix are undeniable: climate collapse, mass extinction, social upheavals, wars over resources, and a profound loss of trust in institutions. This system is not merely in need of reform – it has lost its legitimacy and its viability for the future. It must be replaced by a fundamentally different matrix.
3. The New Matrix Economy: Revolution at the Meta-Level (Vision Dr J. A. Voll)
The New Matrix Economy, as conceived by Dr Judith Annabella Voll, is not merely an optimization of the existing system but a revolutionary counter-design. It starts at the meta-level – with the fundamental values, principles, and the very purpose of economics.
3.1 The Paradigm Shift: New Axioms of Economics
In the New Matrix Economy, life-serving axioms replace the destructive assumptions of the Old Matrix, enabling an economy in harmony with humans and nature:
- Life-serving as the supreme primate: All economic activity is aimed at protecting, promoting, and regenerating life in all its diverse forms. Humans are part of this web of life, not its masters.
- Cooperation and symbiosis as a foundation: Instead of ruinous competition, systemic cooperation, networks of trust, and symbiotic relationships are promoted, leading to win-win-win situations for all participants and the planet.
- Regeneration as an economic imperative: Economic processes are designed not only to avoid harming natural and social systems but to actively contribute to their restoration and revitalization (e.g., regenerative agriculture, circular economy).
- Systemic thinking and holistic responsibility: Decisions are made based on a deep understanding of complex interconnections. Responsibility is assumed for the entire lifecycle of products and services and their impact on the overall system.
- Intrinsic motivation and fulfillment of purpose: Economics becomes a source of meaning and personal development that goes beyond purely material incentives.
4. Societal Business: The Lived Transformation
Societal Business is the consistent and practical implementation of the New Matrix Economy in the entrepreneurial context. It is not a special niche or an "add-on" to the old system, but the aspired standard for *all* economic activity. A Societal Business sees itself as an integral, responsible part of society and the ecosystem and aligns all its actions with the principles of the New Matrix.
4.1 The Four Revolutionary Principles of Societal Business
4.1.1 Lived Holistic Responsibility
A Societal Business assumes full and undivided responsibility for all impacts of its actions – economic, ecological, and social – along the entire value chain and beyond. There is no externalization of costs onto third parties or the environment. Integrity and accountability are the basis of every decision.
4.1.2 Radical Truthfulness
This principle demands absolute transparency and honesty regarding all processes, products, cost structures (internalization of all external costs), and the actual impacts on humans and the planet. Greenwashing and misleading communication are incompatible with this principle.
4.1.3 Consistent Life-Alignment
The purpose of a Societal Business is to make a positive contribution to the flourishing of life. Products, services, and business models are developed and evaluated based on whether they promote human well-being, social justice, and ecological regeneration.
4.1.4 Universal Fairness
Societal Business strives for fair relationships with all stakeholders: employees, customers, suppliers, the local community, and the natural environment. This includes fair wages, just trade practices, respect for human rights, and advocacy for frameworks that counteract exploitation and inequality.
5. Comparison: Old Matrix vs. New Matrix Economy
The following table illustrates the fundamental differences between the dying old system and the emerging New Matrix Economy:
| Feature | Old Matrix (Extractive) | New Matrix (Life-Serving) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Goal | Maximizing profit & accumulation | Flourishing of life & systemic health |
| Success Measure | GDP, Shareholder Value | Well-being, social & eco-regeneration |
| Human Image | Homo Economicus (greedy, separate) | Homo Societal (cooperative, connected) |
| Nature | Resource to be exploited | Living partner to be protected |
| Costs | Systematic externalization | Complete internalization (Truthfulness) |
| Capital | Weapon for dominance | Instrument for transformation |
6. Delineation: Social Business vs. Societal Business
It is crucial to distinguish Societal Business from Social Business. While Social Business often addresses specific social problems within the existing system logic, Societal Business aims for a systemic transformation at the meta-level.
- Social Business: Often acts as a "repair mechanism" for systemic failures without questioning the underlying extractive logic of the overall system.
- Societal Business: Acts as a "system architect" for a new economy. It integrates the 50/50 principle (Flynn Model) and prevents extraction at the source by channeling 50% of surplus directly into the Source Fund for ecological and human regeneration.
7. The Crucial Role of Consciousness
The transition to the New Matrix Economy is not just a technical or structural change, but fundamentally a revolution of consciousness. Our economic systems are a direct mirror of our inner state.
The "Old Matrix" is the expression of an Ego-Consciousness characterized by separation, fear, and scarcity. The "New Matrix" arises from an Awakened Unity Consciousness that recognizes the interconnectedness of all life. In this state, the destruction of nature or the exploitation of others is seen as self-destruction.
8. Peace, Abundance, and the Future of Civilization
An economy of killing, as we experience today, is the root cause of most global conflicts. The New Matrix Economy, by its very design, removes the incentives for war and exploitation. By aligning capital with the promotion of life, we create a foundation for Global Peace and True Abundance – not just for a few, but for all.
The change described here is the blueprint for a civilization that has understood that our consciousness creates the world we live in. The "revolution on the meta-level" is the path to a future worthy of humanity.