The Mordor Economy

2min Snip

00:00

Play full episode

Summary

Transcript

Episode notes

The term 'Mordor economy' illustrates an unsustainable economic model heavily reliant on fossil energy and technological productivity. This model perpetuates growth in GDP through relentless borrowing and innovation, without addressing ecological concerns. Instead of moderating consumption and pursuing an ecological civilization, the default pathway involves adjusting rules to facilitate further resource extraction and energy use. Consequently, this approach leads to an increase in energy and material consumption, resulting in a greater environmental impact. The economic growth achieved is ultimately superficial, as it masks the underlying detrimental effects on the planet's ecosystems.

On this special 100th episode, Nate is interviewed by his friend and colleague in the metacrisis space, Kate Raworth. The conversation is a reflection on the past two years of podcasting – and how Nate’s worldview has evolved because of it. What fundamental concepts could help us better understand the trends happening around us and the potential futures they point to? With so many moving pieces, how can we begin to create a coherent story of the world around us and - even more difficult - start preparing responses to coming challenges? What should individuals aware of these converging crises be thinking about in order to prepare themselves, their families, and their communities for a materially smaller future?

About Nate Hagens

Nate Hagens is the Director of The Institute for the Study of Energy & Our Future (ISEOF) an organization focused on educating and preparing society for the coming cultural transition. Allied with leading ecologists, energy experts, politicians and systems thinkers, ISEOF assembles road-maps and off-ramps for how human societies can adapt to lower throughput lifestyles. Nate holds a Masters Degree in Finance with Honors from the University of Chicago and a Ph.D. in Natural Resources from the University of Vermont. He teaches an Honors course, Reality 101, at the University of Minnesota.

About Kate Raworth

Kate Raworth describes herself as a renegade economist focused on making economics fit for 21st century realities. She is the creator of the Doughnut of social and planetary boundaries, and co-founder of Doughnut Economics Action Lab, based on her best-selling book Doughnut Economics: 7 Ways to Think Like a 21st Century Economist. Kate is a Senior Associate at Oxford University’s Environmental Change Institute, where she teaches on the Masters in Environmental Change and Management. She is also Professor of Practice at Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. She is a member of the Club of Rome and currently serves on the World Health Organisation Council on the Economics of Health for All.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/GocuMZX3hIs

Learn more, and show notes: https://www.thegreatsimplification.com/episode/100-nate-hagens