The New Economics: A Bigger Picture

by Andrew Simms, David Boyle

Economics sometimes seems to be stacked against social, environmental and individual well-being. But it doesn't have to be like this. A new approach to economics - deriving as much from Ruskin and Schumacher as from Keynes or Smith - has begun to emerge. Skeptical about money as a measure of success, this new economics turns our assumptions about wealth and poverty upside down. It shows us that real wealth can be measured by increased well-being and environmental sustainability rather than just having and consuming more things. This book is the first accessible and straightforward guide to the new economics. It describes the problems and bizarre contradictions in conventional economics as well as the principles of the emerging new economics, and it tells the real-world stories of how new economics is being successfully put into practice around the world. An essential guide to understanding new economics for all those who care about making economics work for people and planet.

Genres: Economics

208 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Andrew Simms is policy director of nef (the new economics foundation) the award-winning UK think-and-do tank, and head of nef's Climate Change Programme. His latest book is Ecological Debt: Global Warming and the Wealth of Nations published by Pluto Press.

Reviews

[Andrew Hodgson]

Fantastic book, dense with ideas and information. Unfortunately in the last decade finance is back to business as usual, tax havens remain safe, and Main streets struggle more than ever with this pandemic. However, the book still feels vital and viable. I start an Economics degree soon and rushed to read this so I will go to school with some alternative perspective, and because I believe and try to live out many of these alternatives.

[Michael Broadhead]

I think this is a great entry-level book looking for those wanting to explore some of the inherent sustainability problems we have (and its connections to economics) and want to get some inspiration for creating change in the system.

[Bill Taylor]

Fascinating read on the need for a new economics, full of interesting examples of what isn't working, and a final chapter listing proposals for a new approach. Written just after the credit crunch.