A Different Kind of Ownership Society by Majorie Kelly, Shanna Ratner

The authors argue that ownership is one of the important issues our society faces today as it defines the parameters in our daily life. The important question surrounding the idea of ownership starts with, “Whom?” Who owns the resources and who controls it?

In the city of Luverne, Minnesota laid clusters of wind turbines that popped up through cornfields. Minwind Energy was the company that created these wind developments and invited hundreds of local residents to invest $5,000 a piece, eventually raising $4 million to fund the turbines. In return, the residents became owners of the turbines alongside the farmers that owned the land where the turbines stood on.

This was an example of shared ownership. A policy of no ownership exceeding 15% further strengthened that, resulting in equal wealth distribution among the residents. Rather then allowing the generated wealth to flow into major corporations, it remained local by first flowing back into the community through payments to local workers, investors, and suppliers.

Shared ownership is especially important in regions like rural areas to prevent exploitation of natural resources and to help keep wealth local. These areas are often rich in natural resources that are vital to our economy. As the economy is rising in demand for sustainable agriculture practices, new opportunities are coming up for urban-rural partnerships.

In conclusion, to benefit from all of our resources, we must learn that wealth is beyond just financial capital. The key to creating shared prosperity is by connecting all our resources together. In the long run, shared ownership enhances community wealth.