We really need to talk about the paradigm shift from reductionist machine age thinking (Modern Era) to a living systems paradigm out of which Regenerative Economics is born. Changing the goals and structure of the system can only follow a shift in paradigm as Dana Meadows taught us in her "Places to Intervene in a System".
And my all means, write the book! We are in this crisis for the long haul...
The last time in the modern era that the right sort of systemic change was embraced by a global citizenry was after Henry George gained international support for the public capture of rent as the remedy for the monopolization of nature. George and those who joined him failed, unfortunately. Their attempts to rid societies of entrenched rent-seeking privileges remains, in my view, the greatest challenge for those of us committed to preservation of the planet's life-supporting capacity as well as elimination of extremes of wealth and poverty. The idea that no one should have so much that others do not have enough for a decent human existence rings hollow in most of the world's countries.
We might recall that when Albert Einstein looked to the future, he expressed the view that only a world confederation would be able to reign in the powers of competing nation-states and the monopolistic behaviors of global industrial and financial entities. In some important ways the peoples of the world have assimilated. And yet, the instinctive attachment to ancient tribal identities keeps emerging and gaining strength in conjunction with the economics of scarcity. Such scarcity is primarily caused by unjust socio-political arrangements and institutions. The increasingly devastating events associated with rapid climate change reinforces the tribal mentality.
We so need this book. But "this book" is what? A horizontal governance model instead of a vertical one? A recognition that people preoccupied by survival can’t think beyond that? But all this is known. And if there is an economic model better than Kate Raworth's Doughnut Economics, what would get the world to adopt it? That's THE question.
There’s a lot of intelligent talk about how the world could be but none about how to get there in any reasonable time -- reasonable for a species possibly facing imminent extinction. What we need first is a different understanding, a creation story that isn’t greedy humans climbing over one another but one-humanity in an expanding and evolving cosmos. That’s the essential container for whatever creative ideas there are for how an open-minded species could govern itself. This Substack track of mine deals in such ideas: https://suzannetaylor.substack.com/s/changemaking-now. Also I recommend a new book I haven’t written about that I picked up from @alexanderbeiner, “The Bigger Picture.” It does a beautiful job I think you’ll appreciate of reframing our reality.
Ann Pettifor has a truly outstanding habit of being ahead on economic turning points long before the rest. It comes from not only being very informed intelligent etc but a full understanding of critical developments far outside here academic area with empathy. Because her politics hasn't the same level success here thinking is sidelined by politics as greedy normal which has brought us to this life extinguishing climate.
What more and more people are realising is that deliberative democracy with Citizens Assemblies can sort it all out of they get a democratic mandate. I would like to start a Citizens Assemblies political party, win small and local to show how it works and expand. One person can't do it. No leader's but all the members of the party.
I’ve recently started researching and writing about climate action again after graduating a year ago (master of sustainability and climate policy) and as someone who has absolutely no financial knowledge I really enjoyed reading this article. It has convinced me to learn more about the financial markets because of the immense and pivotal role money plays in all of our climate action efforts. If anyone has any recommendations for things I could read /listen to/watch to help me learn more about this topic I would greatly appreciate it
We do live in perilous times, but one must adhere to a motto expressed by Antonio Gramscii of "Pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will." Grace is love in action. This is why any new economics must be aligned with grace. There is no perfection in life only gamble and adventure, but the best possible way to personally live life and insure our systems are as ethical and robust as possible is by self-actualizing/implementing policies that align with, the aspects of grace all of which are the integrative thirdnesses of Wisdom.
We need this book, because you bring a different way of thinking, and that desperately needs to happen or we’ll keep repeating the same approach over and over again, the paradigm needs smashed and maybe the developing countries need to lead the way and for a change we follow and learn, go for it Ann, can’t wait and look forward to the podcasts to support it
Another thought: yes, book...*and* also other media, in bite-sized chunks. You don't even need to be done with the book to start putting out your ideas in other media. Same content, just you talking... maybe with someone else (to make it engaging dialogue vs. a lecture). Who among the audience you want to reach has time, honestly, to read books? Podcast. Short videos. Nothing fancy -- just other ways to reach ppl. LMK if you want help -- I have a background in public interest radio.
Thanks, Ann. I am delighted you liked it. I have long admired your work - it is crucial, now more than ever. One thing I try to do is take complex ideas and explain them in the simplest clearest way possible. People are drowned in information and the most important issues & proposals usually get lost in the storm and static.
Thanks Ann. I realise it's asking a lot. But couldn't you play an 'Emeritus Professorial" role, just helping to establish and then steer the global campaigning ship. As I'm sure you know the UK umbrella organisation, the Climate Coalition (possibly others), already exist. I imagine there is a global equivalent. How, urgently, to make the sleeping giant active and effective, is the immediate question. But I do think, that with China-US (climate) and US-Russia (Ukraine) talks, there is momentum to be built on. There's already been some co-operation between European and Russian scientists to see a way forward with Russia's climate problems in Northern Russia - things to build co-operation on. Does Biden like Bono and U2?
Ann, I resonate with the central question. I answered the question for myself last year with yes, because writing my book with Jack Reardon gave:
1) me scaffolding to clarify my thinking
2) reach people I don't know
3) catalyse word of mouth.
Do take a look at my new book with Jack - The Ergodic Investor and Entrepreneur, applying ergodicity economics to enable a regenerative / net positive economy. And showing one reason why our current institution of business cannot deliver, because it fails to account for the non-ergodic nature of capital dynamics.
Enjoy. I'd love to hear your thoughts, and how it connects with your excellent work. John Fullerton said last week "My mind has only been blown 3 times in my life; the first was reading Limits to Growth, the second learning MMT, and the third now about Ergodic Investing!"
Oh - and please also see The Great Turning. Work has been done by both David Korten (book, 2006) and Joanna Macy, an elder whose work is more in the spiritual realm, like that of Helena Norbert-Hodge, who championed the Happiness Index re: Ladakh.
Thank you for this Karen. I know David Korten's book and thanks to my links with Schumacher College I know of Helena Norbert-Hodge's work too...but not that of Joanna Macy...
I affirm anyone's research and policy ideas so long as they represent and accomplish alignment with the new monetary, financial and economic paradigm of Gifting, the concept behind every historical new paradigm and the pinnacle concept of Wisdom, namely grace.
Ideas are basic and new paradigm concepts/paradigm changes are the most integrative, beneficial and powerful human phenomena humanity can experience. Start at the actual starting line...conceptual/paradigmatic analysis, and with the simple tool of logic and the beatific chains of the necessary human consideration known as ethics...you can thread the needle of resolution with any problem.
Dear Ann,
We really need to talk about the paradigm shift from reductionist machine age thinking (Modern Era) to a living systems paradigm out of which Regenerative Economics is born. Changing the goals and structure of the system can only follow a shift in paradigm as Dana Meadows taught us in her "Places to Intervene in a System".
And my all means, write the book! We are in this crisis for the long haul...
The last time in the modern era that the right sort of systemic change was embraced by a global citizenry was after Henry George gained international support for the public capture of rent as the remedy for the monopolization of nature. George and those who joined him failed, unfortunately. Their attempts to rid societies of entrenched rent-seeking privileges remains, in my view, the greatest challenge for those of us committed to preservation of the planet's life-supporting capacity as well as elimination of extremes of wealth and poverty. The idea that no one should have so much that others do not have enough for a decent human existence rings hollow in most of the world's countries.
We might recall that when Albert Einstein looked to the future, he expressed the view that only a world confederation would be able to reign in the powers of competing nation-states and the monopolistic behaviors of global industrial and financial entities. In some important ways the peoples of the world have assimilated. And yet, the instinctive attachment to ancient tribal identities keeps emerging and gaining strength in conjunction with the economics of scarcity. Such scarcity is primarily caused by unjust socio-political arrangements and institutions. The increasingly devastating events associated with rapid climate change reinforces the tribal mentality.
We so need this book. But "this book" is what? A horizontal governance model instead of a vertical one? A recognition that people preoccupied by survival can’t think beyond that? But all this is known. And if there is an economic model better than Kate Raworth's Doughnut Economics, what would get the world to adopt it? That's THE question.
There’s a lot of intelligent talk about how the world could be but none about how to get there in any reasonable time -- reasonable for a species possibly facing imminent extinction. What we need first is a different understanding, a creation story that isn’t greedy humans climbing over one another but one-humanity in an expanding and evolving cosmos. That’s the essential container for whatever creative ideas there are for how an open-minded species could govern itself. This Substack track of mine deals in such ideas: https://suzannetaylor.substack.com/s/changemaking-now. Also I recommend a new book I haven’t written about that I picked up from @alexanderbeiner, “The Bigger Picture.” It does a beautiful job I think you’ll appreciate of reframing our reality.
Ann Pettifor has a truly outstanding habit of being ahead on economic turning points long before the rest. It comes from not only being very informed intelligent etc but a full understanding of critical developments far outside here academic area with empathy. Because her politics hasn't the same level success here thinking is sidelined by politics as greedy normal which has brought us to this life extinguishing climate.
What more and more people are realising is that deliberative democracy with Citizens Assemblies can sort it all out of they get a democratic mandate. I would like to start a Citizens Assemblies political party, win small and local to show how it works and expand. One person can't do it. No leader's but all the members of the party.
I’ve recently started researching and writing about climate action again after graduating a year ago (master of sustainability and climate policy) and as someone who has absolutely no financial knowledge I really enjoyed reading this article. It has convinced me to learn more about the financial markets because of the immense and pivotal role money plays in all of our climate action efforts. If anyone has any recommendations for things I could read /listen to/watch to help me learn more about this topic I would greatly appreciate it
We do live in perilous times, but one must adhere to a motto expressed by Antonio Gramscii of "Pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will." Grace is love in action. This is why any new economics must be aligned with grace. There is no perfection in life only gamble and adventure, but the best possible way to personally live life and insure our systems are as ethical and robust as possible is by self-actualizing/implementing policies that align with, the aspects of grace all of which are the integrative thirdnesses of Wisdom.
See also The Tricontinental/Vijay Prashad's latest on the need for a new, anti-colonial theory of "development:"
https://thetricontinental.org/newsletterissue/newsletterissue-new-development-theory/
We need this book, because you bring a different way of thinking, and that desperately needs to happen or we’ll keep repeating the same approach over and over again, the paradigm needs smashed and maybe the developing countries need to lead the way and for a change we follow and learn, go for it Ann, can’t wait and look forward to the podcasts to support it
Another thought: yes, book...*and* also other media, in bite-sized chunks. You don't even need to be done with the book to start putting out your ideas in other media. Same content, just you talking... maybe with someone else (to make it engaging dialogue vs. a lecture). Who among the audience you want to reach has time, honestly, to read books? Podcast. Short videos. Nothing fancy -- just other ways to reach ppl. LMK if you want help -- I have a background in public interest radio.
Thanks, Ann. I am delighted you liked it. I have long admired your work - it is crucial, now more than ever. One thing I try to do is take complex ideas and explain them in the simplest clearest way possible. People are drowned in information and the most important issues & proposals usually get lost in the storm and static.
Brilliant Ann! Looking forward to this - and keen to share our Humane Economics research on the subject.
Supporting this all the way!
I've emailed you also about your stunningly direct suggestion when we spoke last (at Power Station 21st June) which has resonated with me ever since!
PS
If you didn't see it please ping me at http://Linkedin.com/in/BarryEJames and will get it to you.
Barry
Thanks Ann. I realise it's asking a lot. But couldn't you play an 'Emeritus Professorial" role, just helping to establish and then steer the global campaigning ship. As I'm sure you know the UK umbrella organisation, the Climate Coalition (possibly others), already exist. I imagine there is a global equivalent. How, urgently, to make the sleeping giant active and effective, is the immediate question. But I do think, that with China-US (climate) and US-Russia (Ukraine) talks, there is momentum to be built on. There's already been some co-operation between European and Russian scientists to see a way forward with Russia's climate problems in Northern Russia - things to build co-operation on. Does Biden like Bono and U2?
Ann, I resonate with the central question. I answered the question for myself last year with yes, because writing my book with Jack Reardon gave:
1) me scaffolding to clarify my thinking
2) reach people I don't know
3) catalyse word of mouth.
Do take a look at my new book with Jack - The Ergodic Investor and Entrepreneur, applying ergodicity economics to enable a regenerative / net positive economy. And showing one reason why our current institution of business cannot deliver, because it fails to account for the non-ergodic nature of capital dynamics.
Thanks Graham, I will look for your book...
Enjoy. I'd love to hear your thoughts, and how it connects with your excellent work. John Fullerton said last week "My mind has only been blown 3 times in my life; the first was reading Limits to Growth, the second learning MMT, and the third now about Ergodic Investing!"
@Linda Parkinson-Hardman: thank you for sharing the hard lesson you learned after 30 years of change management. Valuable!
Oh - and please also see The Great Turning. Work has been done by both David Korten (book, 2006) and Joanna Macy, an elder whose work is more in the spiritual realm, like that of Helena Norbert-Hodge, who championed the Happiness Index re: Ladakh.
Thank you for this Karen. I know David Korten's book and thanks to my links with Schumacher College I know of Helena Norbert-Hodge's work too...but not that of Joanna Macy...
I affirm anyone's research and policy ideas so long as they represent and accomplish alignment with the new monetary, financial and economic paradigm of Gifting, the concept behind every historical new paradigm and the pinnacle concept of Wisdom, namely grace.
Ideas are basic and new paradigm concepts/paradigm changes are the most integrative, beneficial and powerful human phenomena humanity can experience. Start at the actual starting line...conceptual/paradigmatic analysis, and with the simple tool of logic and the beatific chains of the necessary human consideration known as ethics...you can thread the needle of resolution with any problem.
Threading the needle of resolution is my task...Thank you Steve.