General

The web is abuzz with great videos on rethinking economics – from 3 minute talking heads to 2 hour documentaries. So I’m launching a video club on this blog to share the best that I’ve watched, to debate and critique their perspectives, and to discover other people’s top recommendations. First up are four fab films … Read more

The call for creating resilience is everywhere – from the financial system to the world food system. So what exactly is it, and how can we take inspiration from the resilient systems that are all around us? If we are to stand a chance of living in the doughnut – that safe and just space … Read more

What should economies be aimed at? For over half a century, the goal has been economic growth – but while the global economy has quadrupled in size since the 1970s, human deprivation persists, environmental degradation is deepening, and inequality is at the heart of it all. It’s clear that we need richer concepts and measures … Read more

So here’s the last of three 10 minute videos giving an alternative introduction to economics – the alternative introduction I wish I’d had. Part 1 looked back at the origins of economics, and the framing influence of its founding fathers. Part 2 took a whirlwind tour through current mainstream and heterodox approaches to economic thinking. Finally, this Part 3 … Read more

Here’s part 2 of a 3 part video introduction to economics. Part 1 looked at the origins of economics. Now this section, Part 2, is a whirlwind tour through the many different branches of economic thinking, showing why there are so many contrasting worldviews within economics. It’s essentially the 10 minute overview that I wish … Read more

I remember well my first economics class: we dived straight in and learned to derive supply and demand curves. Then I became so immersed in trying to get my head around the different definitions of the money supply that it took me a decade to realise I didn’t buy into the whole mindset that I … Read more

For all the high-powered roundtables that were held in Davos last week, here’s one roundtable that couldn’t be found there – but should have been. Imagine a company’s top executives sitting down around this table of planetary and social boundaries (’Ladies and Gentlemen, please, take your seats at the doughnut’…). The CEO places one of … Read more

If you like trying to fit square pegs in round holes, you’ll love this little challenge. Can we (that’s humanity I’m talking about) figure out how to use Earth’s resources sustainably while ending poverty and extreme inequality at the same time – and achieve both of these in a world with a growing global population … Read more

The UK’s new Secretary of State for International Development, Justine Greening, must be on a steep learning curve in deciding how to take forward the UK’s approach to tackling global poverty. Word has it that staff at DFID have put just one book in her welcome pack: Getting Better by Charles Kenny of the Center for … Read more