Chapter 9, The Opportunity of Insignificance Summary and Analysis

Not all businesses are big; some are small. "One of the purposes of the restorative economy is to ensure that innovative commercial options have a chance to survive in the monoculture of corporate capitalism," argues Hawken (Chapter 9, pg. 137). Many small businesses don't survive, but those that do are characterized by undercapitalization and existing at the margin. The small businesses that survive are usually the tough competitors. Businesses should want to provide tasks or services that are produced sustainably, meaning in sync with the ecosystem. The product doesn't result in damage or waste to the ecosystem.

It is easier to begin a business that conforms to these practices than it is to change an existing business. For a company to be a part of the restorative economy, it must improve people's lives with its...