Economics for Rebels

Agriculture is a major driver of planetary boundaries being transgressed or facing severe pressure, including climate change, biosphere integrity, land-use change and freshwater use. Furthermore, it is rife with injustices, including exploitative labor practices, prioritizing profits over food security, and perpetuating land-inequality and land-grabbing. A socio-ecological transformation of agriculture is hence imperative. Movement building is necessary to achieve this, working together with and learning from people on the ground and in the field. To learn aboutthis, we have the pleasure to be joined by Julia and Jana from the young peasants association (junge AbL), a German association for young farmers, gardeners, students and apprentices who organize together to achieve a shift inagricultural policies and to promote peasant farming. Hosted by Matilda Gettins. Edited by Aidan Knox.

Ecological economics is the study of economics where remaining within the constraints of the biosphere is central to the analytical frameworks. Many of our disagreements with neoclassical economics stem from differences in the way we interpret and model our interactions with the environment. Ecological economics views us as part of the biosphere, with some branches of ecological economics really pushing back on instrumental and anthropocentric conceptions of nature and emphasising the deep connections and evolutionary history of humans' relationship with nature. So in this episode we’ll be unpacking the science of how people’s relationship with nature affects their wellbeing with Jessica C. Fisher. Hosted by Sophus zu Ermgassen. Edited by Aidan Knox.

Seb O'Connor, a lecturer in ecological economics, discusses the crucial intersection of values and decision-making in economics. He highlights how prevailing economic values often neglect diverse perspectives, affecting sustainability. O'Connor critiques the reductionist views upheld by major institutions and examines the historical impact of colonialism on value systems. He advocates for inclusive practices like citizen assemblies to ensure that democratic processes incorporate a plurality of values, especially in tackling environmental crises.

The democratisation of money creation, of banking and of investments could be a true game-changer in the sustainability transition. Some would argue that central banks could play a much more significant role in all this if they transcended the narrow understanding of their current tasks, mainly revolving around shepherding inflation rates. But can central banks serve people and planet rather than the vague notion of market stability? With Uuriintuya Batsaikhan we are trying to find out. Hosted by Alexandra Köves. Edited by Aidan Knox.

There is growing consensus that the way economies in the global North function exploits the environment and is fundamentally unsustainable in the long run given current development trajectories. As a result, in policy discourse and throughout the nature conservation movement, there appears to be growing acknowledgement that there is a huge amount we can learn from Indigenous stewardship of ecosystems, and that Indigenous lands have tended to be associated with some of the best outcomes for biodiversity over the last few decades. We welcome Dr Jocelyne Sze on to the show to give us a crash course on Indigenous stewardship of global ecosystems. Hosted by Sophus zu Ermgassen. Edited by Aidan Knox.

We are pleased to kick off season 4 by talking about what ecological economists need to know about human behaviour. Our guide to these issues is Kristian Steensen Nielsen, a behavioural scientist and assistant professor at Copenhagen Business School focusing on the role of behaviour change in mitigating climate change and conserving biodiversity. Kristian specialises in identifying the feasibility and scalability of initiatives to change behaviour, understanding how individual behavior changes can contribute to limiting ecological damages.

Giorgos Kallis, a political ecologist known for his work in degrowth, joins Joshua Farley, an ecological economist focused on sustainability, and Brototi Roy, a postdoctoral researcher critiquing development discourse. They dive into how degrowth, ecological economics, and post-development interrelate. Kallis advocates for a shift towards frugal abundance, while Farley emphasizes the need for ecological economics to adapt and transform. Roy critiques Western development narratives, highlighting transdisciplinary connections that enrich these important debates.

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.