How can our community be home to a thriving people,
in a thriving place,
while respecting the wellbeing of people worldwide and
the health of the whole planet?
This is the question at the heart of this Regenerative Economics course.
Everyone participates in the economy, but the current design of our economies isn’t working for everyone. Our economies are designed to grow endlessly and aimlessly, increasing economic inequality in societies and damaging Earth's life-support systems.
It often seems that society and the rest of nature are expected to serve the economy. But it should be the other way around. Our economies should be serving human and ecological wellbeing.
You already know a lot about the economy! You care for yourself and others every day and care is at the core of all economies. Topic 1.1 will help you understand your own connection to the economy and how the economy should function to better meet human needs within Earth’s limits.
At the end of Subtopic 1.1 What is the economy? you should be able to:
state what an economy is and what the discipline of economics studies
describe examples of economic activities in students’ own lives
outline uses and limitations of models to understand the economy
explain and compare the circular flow of income and the embedded economy models
outline characteristics of degenerative economies: linear, extractive and divisive, endless and aimless growth
outline characteristics of regenerative economies: circular, distributive and caring, needs-based and sufficient