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“Usus pauper”: how early Franciscan economic thought might offer a contribution to the debate about food waste

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  • Valentina Erasmo

    (Economy of Francesco Academy
    Università G. d’Annunzio)

Abstract

This paper shows that early Franciscan economic thought might offer a relevant contribution to the debate about food waste. Some elements related to the Franciscan concept of usus pauper—like the ideal food quantity and food type or the criticism against food storage—might be useful for establishing a more balanced individual relationship with food. This more balanced relationship is an ante-litteram example of food education promoting sustainable food consumption and preventing food waste. Franciscan economic thought might promote voluntary self-commitment initiatives against food waste based on frugality and sustainable choices and contribute to the broader development of alternative economic paradigms compared to mainstream orthodox economics, as has recently been occurring with the perspective of the Economy of Francesco.

Suggested Citation

  • Valentina Erasmo, 2023. "“Usus pauper”: how early Franciscan economic thought might offer a contribution to the debate about food waste," International Review of Economics, Springer;Happiness Economics and Interpersonal Relations (HEIRS), vol. 70(3), pages 323-339, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:inrvec:v:70:y:2023:i:3:d:10.1007_s12232-023-00421-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s12232-023-00421-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Charles M. A. Clark & Helen Alford, 2019. "The Throwaway Culture in the Economy of Exclusion: Pope Francis and Economists on Waste," American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 78(4), pages 973-1008, September.
    2. Willem Marie Speelman, 2018. "The Franciscan Usus Pauper: using poverty to put life in the perspective of plenitude," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 4(1), pages 1-7, December.
    3. Jessica Aschemann-Witzel & Ilona De Hooge & Pegah Amani & Tino Bech-Larsen & Marije Oostindjer, 2015. "Consumer-Related Food Waste: Causes and Potential for Action," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(6), pages 1-21, May.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Franciscan economic thought; Food insecurity; Food poverty; Food waste; Usus pauper;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • B1 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought through 1925
    • B - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology
    • Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics

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