Climate change and the limits of cost-benefit analysis
Econ4’s James Boyce explains why “efficiency” may be a poor basis for deciding whether to save the planet:
Source: Real News Network.
Top dogs and low lifes
Check out this new research on the psychology of privilege and greed (or what some economists dub “rational behavior”):
Source: PBS News Hour.
Student loan profiteering
Senator Elizabeth Warren stands up for students:
Making billions and billions in profits off the backs of students is obscene.
Why GDP fails to measure economic well-being
A primer on the defects of GDP as a measure of economic well-being, from Econ4’s James Boyce:
Source: The Real News Network.
Grow the good, shrink the bad
Econ4’s James Boyce writes that we need better measures of economic well-being, better public policies, and better language:
We need to move beyond the stale “pro-growth” versus “anti-growth” rhetoric of the past. It’s time to raise a new banner: Grow the good and shrink the bad.
Read more here.
Unlocking our climate wealth
Econ4’s James Boyce on how to translate good principles into good practice:
Source: http://tedxtraversecity.com/videos/
Capitalism Unmasked
Capitalism Unmasked, a new eBook edited by Lynn Parramore, was produced in a partnership between AlterNet and Econ4 to expose the myths of unbridled capitalism and show the way to a better future. You can download the PDF here.
20,000 People a Year Die From Effects of Fossil Fuel Generation
Econ4’s own James Boyce calls out fossil fuel companies’ “low-level terrorism”, responsible for 20,000 American deaths every year.
From The Real News
We’re Not Broke
Watch the trailer for the new film, We’re Not Broke
“…the story of U.S. corporations dodging billions of dollars in income tax, and how seven fed-up Americans take their frustration to the streets…and vow to make the corporations pay their fair share.” – from werenotbrokemovie.com
Commies Under The Bed?
From Miles, November 28, 2011:
What is the difference between what you propose and communism?
Econ4 replies:
Gee, red-baiting is so last century. But we’re glad you asked. Check out our mission statement where we set out Econ4’s four necessary conditions for a healthy economy:
1. A level playing field.
2. Resilience.
3. True-cost pricing.
4. Real democracy.
Doesn’t sound like actually existing communism. Or like actually existing capitalism. If those were the only two choices, economics really would be a dismal science. They aren’t, and it doesn’t have to be.
