SystemShift

In our season finale, we're diving deep into the myths surrounding neoliberalism with leading economists Kate Pickett and Richard Wilkinson - two of the brightest minds in the field. Brace yourself for a compelling discussion on how inequality takes a toll on physical health, relationships, and emotions. Chronic stress, accelerated ageing, increased rates of bullying and homicide, and even lower life expectancy all intertwine with the disparity. Pickett and Wilkinson will also look at circular and regenerative economic models, shifting away from relentless growth-focused mindsets. From promoting well-being and experimenting with basic income pilots to envisioning a four-day working week, we'll explore groundbreaking research that suggests sustainable economies can provide a decent standard of living for all. Kate Pickett is a Professor of Epidemiology in the Department of Health Sciences at the University of York, while Richard Wilkinson is Professor Emeritus of Social Epidemiology at the University of Nottingham Medical School, Honorary Professor at UCL, and a Visiting Professor at the University of York. Together they wrote The Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better - a book that examines the effects of the inequality that resulted from free markets and limited government intervention in the economy.This episode of SystemShift comes from Greenpeace Nordic and is hosted by Greenpeace Sweden campaigner, Carl Schlyter, and produced by Alexia Fridén, with additional support from Ariadna Rodrigo, Juliana Costa, Christian Aslund and Attila Kulcsár. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ariane König shares her work on studying complex systems, as well as practical advice for creating a regenerative society. She dives deep into defining what a system is in complex social-ecological-technological systems and stresses the significance of collective intelligence and transdisciplinary approaches in her research. Ariane discusses the work of political economist Elinor Ostrom on social coordination and the mechanisms that govern it, with examples of how market competition and government regulation fail, particularly in the case of common goods that are limited in their supplies. The conversation then looks at how to create a regenerative society, which involves both top-down and bottom-up approaches. Ariane highlights the need for local action and engaging in activities that can help regenerate the ecosystem, be it in an urban or rural setting. Ariane König is an assistant professor at the University of Luxembourg leading a team on social ecological systems research. https://www.citizenscience.lu/ transformation-lab.luThis episode of SystemShift comes from Greenpeace Nordic and is hosted by Greenpeace Sweden campaigner, Carl Schlyter, and produced by Alexia Fridén, with additional support from Ariadna Rodrigo, Juliana Costa, Christian Aslund and Attila Kulcsár. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guy Standing, economist and author, looks at the current economic system and its impact on labour and society as a whole. Standing is a campaigning economist responsible for some of the most innovative solutions to inequality of recent times and he calls on us to wake up to the threat posed by capitalism's violent policies for extraction, exploitation and depletion of that which is both common to us all, but also vital to our survival. Austerity and neoliberal policies have depleted our shared commons - this plunder depriving us all of our centuries-old common rights to share fairly and equitably in our public wealth. Standing also looks at the increasingly global phenomenon of the Precariat and the rise of political extremism - and offers solutions, including the potential of a Universal Basic Income system as a tool for tackling inequality, climate change, and authoritarian populism. Guy Standing is a Professorial Research Associate and former Professor of Development Studies at SOAS University of London. His latest book is “The Blue Commons” in which he focuses on the economy of the sea and how it can provide solutions to economic inequality. He is also the author of "The Precariat” - the hugely influential first account of an increasingly global phenomenon where an emerging class of people faces insecurity, moving in and out of precarious work that gives little meaning to their lives. This episode of SystemShift comes from Greenpeace Nordic and is hosted by Greenpeace campaigner and former Swedish politician and Green MEP, Carl Schlyter, and produced by Alexia Fridén, with additional support from Ariadna Rodrigo, Juliana Costa, Christian Aslund and Attila Kulcsár at Greenpeace. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The renowned development economist, Jayati Ghosh, offers an eye-opening perspective on the different facets of inequality and the need for systemic change to address them, bringing together her interests in international trade and finance, employment patterns in developing countries, as well as issues related to gender and development. Ghosh argues for the need to redress the power imbalances which are reinforcing socially irrational and unjust policies. Through the prisms of gender inequality, social discrimination, and the global power dynamics between countries, Ghosh looks at how relational inequality impacts the ability of individuals or groups to influence the actions of others, affecting their agency and power. She delves into the undervaluing and under-rewarding of care work, to highlight the lack of power and voice that care workers and unpaid caregivers have in society compared to the significant influence of financial institutions and corporations. Ghosh also critiques the worldwide prevalence of crony capitalism and plutocracy, and - as an antidote to despair - she argues the need for mobilisation and collective action to increase the power of those who need it.Jayati Ghosh taught economics at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi for nearly 35 years, and since January 2021 has been Professor of economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She is co-chair of the Independent Commission for the Reform of International Corporate Taxation and a member of the UN Secretary-general’s High-Level Advisory Board on Effective Multilateralism and the World Health Organization's Council on the Economics of Health for All.Thoughts and suggestions? Email us at SystemShift@greenpeace.orgThis episode of SystemShift comes from Greenpeace Nordic and is hosted by Greenpeace campaigner and former Swedish politician and Green MEP, Carl Schlyter, and produced by Alexia Fridén, with additional support from Ariadna Rodrigo, Juliana Costa, Christian Aslund and Attila Kulcsár at Greenpeace. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kojo Koram sheds light on the impacts of Britain's colonial past on our current economic model. He explains how the legacies of the British empire are not just symbolic or cultural, but are deeply connected to our economy, legal system, and political structure. Kojo looks beyond the mainstream culture wars debate around Empire and emphasises the material motivations behind imperialism - the extraction of resources from across the world to benefit the home territory of the empire. He challenges assumptions about former colonies' inequality and insecurity, exposing the material motivations behind imperialism and the ongoing effects on contemporary capitalism. Through thought-provoking insights and examples, Kojo highlights how the British Empire, in particular, has laid the groundwork for contemporary capitalism, with its influence still visible in the English common law system and the financial centre of London.Kojo Koram is a lecturer at the School of Law at Birkbeck, University of London, who also writes extensively on issues of law, race, and empire. His latest book, "Uncommon Wealth: Britain and the Aftermath of Empire" is a groundbreaking work that sheds light on how the forgotten stories of empire and decolonisation continue to shape our daily lives worldwide.Thoughts and suggestions? Email us at SystemShift@greenpeace.orgThis episode of SystemShift comes from Greenpeace Nordic and is hosted by Greenpeace campaigner and former Swedish politician and Green MEP, Carl Schlyter, and produced by Alexia Fridén, with additional support from Ariadna Rodrigo, Juliana Costa, Christian Aslund and Attila Kulcsár at Greenpeace. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eva von Redecker, a philosopher and author known for her work on critical theory and feminist philosophy, challenges the inevitability of our current economic system. She urges us to rethink work, value, and care, proposing a more just economic model focused on the most vulnerable. Eva explores the ecological notion of freedom, emphasizing time, biodiversity, and soil health. She critiques traditional property rights and advocates for kindness and interdependence as solutions for societal change. Her vision delves into meaningful living, solidarity, and the intricate cycles of life and death.

Indy Johar, an architect who specialises in re-imagining institutions and envisioning different economies and relationships, argues that we are vastly underestimating the scale of the challenges we face. According to Indy, the next few decades will completely redesign everything around us, including our material world such as our clothes, food, and furniture, as well as some of our concepts, including those of value, pricing, ownership, and work. He sees us on the threshold of a structural transition that will fundamentally change society and our relationship with energy. Indy believes that civilisation is coming to the end of a 400-year-old vision of our world based on Cartesian dualism, where object and subject have been separated, and we are beginning to witness a re-entangling of the world around us in terms of interdependencies and externalities. Indy predicts that this transition will lead to a reassessment of philosophical, material, social, risk, and costs, bringing about a new vision of the world that is more interconnected and holistic.  Indy Johar is an architect and the co-founder of Dark Matter Laboratories, an organisation dedicated to developing new support frameworks for collaborative system change.Thoughts and suggestions? Email us at SystemShift@greenpeace.orgThis episode of SystemShift comes from Greenpeace Nordic and is hosted by Greenpeace campaigner and former Swedish politician and Green MEP, Carl Schlyter, and produced by Alexia Fridén, with additional support from Ariadna Rodrigo, Juliana Costa, Christian Aslund and Attila Kulcsár at Greenpeace. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Juliet Schor explores the urgent need to address the ecological crisis by fundamentally shifting our economic focus from growth to sustainability. Schor sheds light on the relationship between extreme inequality and climate breakdown, highlighting how unequal power structures prevent climate action. Drawing from her research, Schor argues for reduced work hours, increased leisure time, and a focus on community well-being as a practical and realistic alternative to the unsustainable growth-driven model of capitalism. Discover how a shorter working week can significantly benefit well-being, productivity, and the environment by reducing global carbon emissions. Tune in to learn how you can work less, relax more, and contribute to saving the planet.Juliet Schor, an economist and Sociology Professor at Boston College, focuses on work, consumption, and climate change. Schor’s most recent project is researching trials of companies who are implementing four day workweeks organised by the non-profit 4 Day Week Global.Thoughts and suggestions? Email us at SystemShift@greenpeace.orgThis episode of SystemShift comes from Greenpeace Nordic and is hosted by Greenpeace campaigner and former Swedish politician and Green MEP, Carl Schlyter, and produced by Alexia Fridén, with additional support from Ariadna Rodrigo, Juliana Costa, Christian Aslund and Attila Kulcsár at Greenpeace. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ann Pettifor demystifies the complex concept of money creation in modern economies, which is no longer backed by gold reserves held by central banks. Pettifor uses accessible imagery and language to explain how money, history's most misunderstood invention, was created and sets out her diagnosis of the problems plaguing the world's monetary system. She also offers a prescription for how these issues can be fixed. Pettifor discusses how commercial bankers can create credit without limit and with minimal regulatory constraints, and she proposes introducing controls on international capital flows to address these issues. She also critiques fiscal austerity and argues that democracies must reclaim control over money production and manage the finance sector in the interests of society and the ecosystem. Ann Pettifor is an economist, writer, and activist. She is the Director of Policy Research in Macroeconomics (PRIME), a think-tank that focuses on developing alternative economic policies. Ann is the author of The Case for the Green New Deal and The Production of Money.Thoughts and suggestions? Email us at SystemShift@greenpeace.orgThis episode of SystemShift comes from Greenpeace Nordic and is hosted by Greenpeace campaigner and former Swedish politician and Green MEP, Carl Schlyter, and produced by Alexia Fridén, with additional support from Ariadna Rodrigo, Juliana Costa, Christian Aslund and Attila Kulcsár at Greenpeace. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Jackson delivers a thought-provoking exploration of the urgent need to redefine and measure progress in a different way, given that our current economic system is clearly unsustainable and toxic. Jackson challenges the myth of eternal economic growth and its impact on our finite resources and a rapidly warming planet. He questions the predominant measure of progress across the world, Gross Domestic Product, and the popular belief that governments need to continually increase production and consumption to keep GDP rising. Jackson explores alternative ways to think about progress and prosperity that are in balance with our planetary boundaries, highlighting the devastating impact of pursuing GDP growth as a policy goal, including climate destabilisation, financial market meltdowns as well as the loss of forests and natural habitats. He argues that it's time to change to a new metric, amid ever-louder concerns about the failure of national economies to tackle the multiple threats posed by climate change, spiraling energy costs, insecure employment, and widening inequality. Tim Jackson, an ecological economist and writer, is the Director of the Center for the Understanding for Sustainable Prosperity at the University of Surrey. Tim is the author of Prosperity Without Growth, Material Concerns and Post Growth—Life After Capitalism. Thoughts and suggestions? Email us at SystemShift@greenpeace.orgThis episode of SystemShift comes from Greenpeace Nordic and is hosted by Greenpeace campaigner and former Swedish politician and Green MEP, Carl Schlyter, and produced by Alexia Fridén, with additional support from Ariadna Rodrigo, Juliana Costa, Christian Aslund and Attila Kulcsár at Greenpeace. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.