STOCKHOLM, January 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The newly established non-profit foundation Economic Shift inspires companies to do business differently in order to be successful and contribute to a better world.

Economic Shift envisions an economic world where we take into consideration ethical values, global environmental and social concerns, as well as the increasingly dynamic relationships between customers and producers. Ultimately, it is the customers who decide the value of products and services.

Consumers' values are changing. More people have access to new technologies which make it possible to communicate and spread messages to many people in a short time span, for example through social media. Our society has already shown that it is ready for new ways of doing business. However, most companies still operate business models that date from the days of industrialisation.

"We invite all stakeholders around the world to participate in the realization and development of this vision. We must develop our current economic structure in order to protect the earth and at the same time make sure that companies can grow," says Katarina Chowra, who is the initiator of Economic Shift.

Economic Shift welcomes professionals and all those who are interested in this topic to our community for sharing knowledge, experience and best practice: http://economicshift.org

A few examples of how our economic world is developing:

- Companies' stakeholders have an increasing awareness of and interest in questions such as environment, social responsibility and ethics. - Production and pricing are becoming more individualized. - Social media makes it possible to spread messages, even when no financial resources are available.

Economic Shift is founded on the principle that there should be no conflict between running a successful business while at the same time working towards a better world. Rather, these objectives can be met simultaneously.

Economic Shift's founders are:

Katarina Chowra

Emma Ihre

Björn Vingård

Marianne Hamilton