7 Ways to Think Like a 21st Century Economist
Source: Kate Raworth, from the book Doughnut Economics: 7 Ways to Think Like a 21st Century Economist, 2017
These come from Kate Raworth’s book Doughnut Economics.
1. Change the Goal
from GDP to the Doughnut
Traditional economics sets the goal of continually increasing Gross Domestic Product.
The new goal should be to maintain economic production between a floor and a ceiling, so that we produce sufficient goods and services to meet every human’s basic needs, without creating environmental degradation to the point at which we endanger a sustainable planet for ourselves and future generations.
2. See the Big Picture
from self-contained market to an embedded economy
Our economy does not exist in isolation, but must be seen as embedded within human society and within nature; we must consider interactions and flows between traditional economic elements and elements of these bigger systems.
3. Nurture Human Nature
from rational economic man to social, adaptable humans
We are not entirely self-interested and calculating and focused solely on maximizing our own income and wealth; we are social and interdependent and quirky and creative and have fluid value systems.
4. Get Savvy With Systems
It’s time to stop searching for the economy’s elusive control levers and start stewarding it as an ever-evolving complex system.
5. Design to Distribute
We need to design economies to provide more even and equitable distribution of wealth and income.
6. Create to Regenerate
Design products and services for a circular economy.
7. Be Agnostic About Growth
We need economies that make us thrive, whether or not they grow.