Economics for Rebels

This live recording of the 3rd Season’s final episode is a plenary roundtable discussion at the 10th International Degrowth and 15th European Society for Ecological Economics Conference in Pontevedra with ecological economists Brototi Roy, Joshua Farley and Giorgos Kallis. The discussion revolves around how degrowth, ecological economics and post-development relate to each other, how they evolved and co-evolved and what distinguishes the three concepts and research fields.  

Dr. Romain Svartzman and Dr. Jeff Althouse discuss the ecological economics of the international monetary system, highlighting how the financial sector drives ecological degradation. They explore currency hierarchies, China's role, radical economic ideas' acceptance, central banks in crises, and global imbalances solutions.

In our current attention economy, it is of vital importance how alternative economic solutions are being presented in the media by the most credible players. Any ecological economist would tell that mainstream media covers almost exclusively mainstream economic thinking significantly contributing to upholding a paradigm that needs to be transformed for people and planet. Today’s guest, Nick Romeo, a journalist with a predisposition to embrace heterodox economic thought explains us why that might be the case and what it takes to change that.

Leonora Grcheva and Rob Shorter from the Donut Economics Action Lab discuss practical implementation of the Doughnut model in various sectors like business and government. They explore the challenges of measuring social and ecological outcomes in local communities and the balance between competitiveness and well-being in economic policies. The guests share inspiring stories of implementing Doughnut Economics in communities and rebelling against established mindsets.

Kate Raworth, Doughnut economics legend, discusses the challenges and successes of doughnut economics adoption. They explore the importance of clear terminology, visual representations, and practical applications in reshaping economic narratives. The podcast covers topics like navigating conflicting perspectives, storytelling in advocating change, rethinking consumption for environmental sustainability, and advocating for a new economic mindset.

It is often argued that it was market-based capitalism that made agriculture so efficient that it enabled the eradication of hunger globally. This claim is shadowed by the incredible environmental degradation that was caused by industrial agriculture in the last centuries. Hence, due demand arises that we should keep the world fed through sustainable means. Our guest today, Pablo Tittonell claims that this is possible through agroecology where we combine agricultural and ecological knowledge to create food while taking care of nature’s amazingly creative and generous provisioning and regenerative systems. Hosted by Alexandra Köves. Edited by Aidan Knox.

Dr. Benjamin Franta discusses climate litigation, holding big oil accountable, historical responsibility, and the challenges of proving moral culpability. The podcast delves into the transition from physics to climate change activism, legal ramifications for big oil, and the difficulties in holding asset managers accountable for investments. Future forecasts include nature and cultural rights litigation against companies for climate damages.

Ecological economist Robert Costanza discusses societal addiction to economic growth in 'Addicted to Growth'. The podcast explores the analogy of addiction, the stages of dealing with addiction, and the need for collective vision based on sustainable principles. It delves into behavior change, creating shared visions for a sustainable future, and alternative decision-making methods like deliberative democracy and sociocracy.

Some key mainstream critiques of postgrowth economics revolve around labour, and what the labour market would look like in a postgrowth economy, with the common perception being that economic contraction tends to be associated with unemployment, and therefore that a postgrowth economy is socially unsustainable. But, if we are to transition to a postgrowth world for ecological reasons or because of secular stagnation, ecological economics needs to present a compelling story about what people’s jobs and lives could look like in this world. This episode’s guest Dr Ben Gallant is an expert in understanding and modelling postgrowth futures for the labour force, here to guide us through what employment in a postgrowth economy could look like. Hosted by Sophus zu Ermgassen. Edited by Aidan Knox.

Over the last decades, burning wood for energy has expanded in the EU, as have proposals for implementing Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS). The origins of this questionable boom can be found in accounting loopholes, which allow burning woody biomass to be classed as carbon neutral and BECCS as carbon negative. Based on these loopholes and large lobby power, (woody) biomass has received generous subsidies and been counted towards renewable energy targets in the EU. A large international supply chain has developed, with wood pellets being shipped all the way from forests in the U.S. Southeast to generate energy in the EU. In this episode, we discuss all these issues with ecologist Dr. Mary Booth, founder and director of the Partnership for Policy Integrity (PFPI). PFPI is a small non-profit organisation in the US working on forest biomass, energy, and climate issues. Hosted by Matilda Susan Gettins. Edited by Aidan Knox.