Improving the Invisible Hand: The Case for Valuation to Improve our Exchange System
Money is the lifeblood of our exchange system, allowing goods and services to flow between people. Yet, our current monetary system reduces value to mere numbers, failing to capture the richness and complexity of human contributions. This one-dimensional lens neglects the immeasurable aspects of life—friendship, trust, caregiving, and even transformative moments that shape our futures.
What price can be placed on acts of kindness, support for a new business, or the care of an elderly loved one? These vital contributions remain invisible within our existing frameworks. Our society struggles to quantify qualities that can’t be reduced to numbers—love, happiness, or even the health and well-being of a community. Without better ways to measure these elements, we undervalue the very foundation of what makes life meaningful.
Imagine if:
- The true worth of a loyal employee was measured beyond their salary—companies would be structured differently.
- A holistic approach to health that includes emotional, mental and spiritual wellbeing was valued appropriately, the NHS would make huge savings.
- The social value of adding bovaer to cow feeds was valued and compared to the social value of investing in biodynamic farming, better investment decisions would be made that have a double impact of both improved environment and improved health.
- The social value of dumping sewage in water was valued, accounted for and reported in water company annual accounts to Companies House.
A society that fails to account for these invisible contributions is inherently incomplete, and its systems inadequate.
A future rooted in multidimensional valuation systems can transform how we perceive wealth and success. By embracing tools that recognise the full spectrum of human and societal value, we can shape a world that rewards care, innovation, and connection. This shift isn't just about better numbers; it's about creating a society that genuinely values life in all its forms.
The Social Value International Be Responsive Principle and Standard further supports better business planning as it provides pointers on how to use social value data to make changes to strategy, services and operations in a structured way. Having the social data in itself, no matter if/ where the weaknesses are in any datasets, always triggers good discussions about impact - without social value data how can you have a meaningful discussion about how to improve impact management and increase the social value?
The challenge is clear: We need to go beyond money as the sole metric of worth. Instead, we need social values that reflect the depth of human experience and inspire change. There is a hidden value of life—an untapped potential waiting to be acknowledged and celebrated. When we value things correctly the world will be a completely different place and the government will no longer be fit for purpose!!
Click here if you would like to find out more about Principle 3: Value the Things that Matter.
We love these platforms by Impact Reporting and Thrive that can be used to collect, value and report on data.
As independent Advanced Practitioners in Social Value we also offer social return on investment evaluation, forecasting, reporting and planning. Contact us for a 1:1 to discuss your needs and we can support you to find the right track based on your individual needs. Book here.