I last took an economics course in 2012, and while it was fantastic, there was always a challenging or confusing element of it: humans make decisions to maximize utility and supply and demand will “figure it out.”
The first week in John Fullerton’s course, “Introduction to Regenerative Economics” has been excellent and very informative. Humans don’t make decisions to maximize utility, and technology will not be able to solve all of our social and environmental problems. We need help. We need to help each other, and regenerate our living systems in order that we can live in dignity. And this course takes a whole new perspective on economics. A paradigm shift that takes economics out of the sphere of divine science, and makes it part of a system for life.
To define regenerative economics: a living system with patterns and principles that guide actions and how things sustain themselves. The regenerative economic system is one where the principles and guidelines of regenerative nature align and direct the actions of the economic system.
How do I contribute? At this moment living in NYC its hard to find my life to be much but extractive. Attending to recycling and composting, minimizing my purchases is a step to reducing consumption and impact, but it isn’t guided by regenerative; its guided by efficiency. These are mostly win/lose outcomes.
Based on our current political economy, it is not surprising we are living at the brisk of severe change. We have pushed the limits of natural systems so far there is no choice but for the systems to change. We will and are experiencing those changes, even if we still survive in them, are we thriving in them?
Where relationships and being come into play, and act on a regenerative level, I think I am contributing very little. Helping people exercise doesn’t seem to be part of the regenerative economy.
What behaviors and relationships of being would be considered within the realm of a regenerative economy? My thoughts:
- banking systems that work within the direct area to help people maintain financial health, promote literacy are as strong as their client base is healthy. money that grows a neighborhood, a city…
- employees of a business within a city work for the business, and then being part of the community, give back like a good neighbor. genuine returns to community as opposed to strategic branding…
- a tax policy that promotes greater equity and benefits, and brings wealth to those who rightfully earned it, but also works hard to promote an economy where one can live with dignity. a shift in the american dream…
