top of page

To transform society – as climate science insists we must – we need a new economics.

Lightly regulated corporate capitalism – a.k.a. neoliberalism – has done much to get us into this mess, with its view of the earth’s finite resources as ‘natural capital’ to be ruthlessly extracted and exploited. The economic theory underpinning this – 'neoclassical economics' – has been taught in universities and faithfully accepted by mainstream political parties for forty years. GDP is its metric; endless growth is its goal.

But this economic orthodoxy is being challenged. Doughnut economics, for example, pioneered by Kate Raworth, defines its goal as ‘thriving’ communities, living within planetary boundaries. The doughnut was recently adopted by Amsterdam; could LBHF be next?

Another big idea is degrowth, which argues that to avoid climate catastrophe (and for many other good reasons), we need to extract, produce and consume less stuff – and in the words of Jason Hickel, ‘become more’.

Bringing these ideas and others together are the Wellbeing Economic Alliance and the New Economics Foundation. There has never been a better time to get economically literate.

(click on the text for more information)

Fairytales of Growth

Shows how economic growth has brought us close to catastrophic climate breakdown; what then are the alternatives? (47 mins, 2020)

More info

Economics

Video

Universal Basic Income

National Geographic article on the Universal Basic Income: utopian pipe-dream or a great idea whose time has finally come?

More info

Economics

Article

Wellbeing Economic Alliance

WEAll unites 'organisations, alliances, movements and individuals working towards a wellbeing economy…’ The governments of Scotland, Wales, Iceland and NZ are signed up.

More info

Economics

Article

Doughnut Economics

Kate Raworth’s 15 minute Ted talk (2018) has been seen by millions: ‘A healthy economy should be designed to thrive, not grow.’

More info

Economics

Video

Timebanking

Article from Yes! magazine on a timebanking project in St. Louis, USA, where residents exchange their time, skills and goods instead of money.

More info

Economics

Article

Degrowth

Five things you need to know about degrowth: a handy summary and short video from the German broadcaster, DW (Deutsche Welle).

More info

Economics

Article

Doughnut Economics

Kate Raworth: Doughnut economics. Best-selling introduction to the doughnut-shaped alternative to growth-driven economics.

More info

Economics

Book

The Growth Delusion

David Pilling tells how GDP came to be the all-important economic metric for governments – then thoroughly debunks it. Other metrics, it turns out, are available…

More info

Economics

Book

New Economics Foundation

Together we can change the rules to make the economy work for everyone

More info

Economics

Article

bottom of page