Rethinking Economics International

Tired of vague climate talk with no economic backup? 🌀
Join our Economics for Climate Action workshop!

📅 June 18 | 🕔 5–8PM
📍 London
⚫Sign up: bit.ly/4mzDPiQ...
📩 tais.real@rethinkeconomics.org

#ClimateJustice #EcologicalEconomics #EconForClimate #RethinkEconomics

Photo of people in a crowd with pink filter over. Text explains that we all experience the economy differently despite living under the same system and that the way the media talks about the economy obscures this. A screenshot of a headline talking about growth is an example but growth for who?

We need a new system.

To get there, we need new narratives for how we talk about the system.

Narratives that link economic policies to people's lived experiences.

That's one of the reasons Rethinking Economics exists! Join us: www.rethinkeconomics.org/get-involved/

Orange background, purple title with white highlight says 'environmental impacts'. Text says: "Extraction of natural resources is leading us to climate breakdown. Whether because of fossil fuels are extracted and burnt or because extracting other natural resources at huge scale causes destruction from biodiversity loss to soil degradation or water shortages. Even sustainable resources become unsustainable under extractivism because they are extracted at such a high rate that they can’t naturally replenish quick enough. Extractivism treats the environment as an externality"

Extractivism takes land, resources, and essentials away from the communities that need it all for the profit of a small minority.

Same background as the previous slide. Text says: A photo of two diggers by a mine with a purple and orange hue. Text says: "Extractivism has been a mechanism of colonial and neo-colonial plunder. Extractivism was established on a huge scale around 500 years ago as part of colonialisation on the American, African, and Asian continents. This colonialism & exploitation of natural resources led to huge inequality. Social impacts: Extractivism allows a small minority to benefit from the extraction of natural resources. This leads to inequality both in the area where the natural resources are extracted and internationally - as those along the chain profit from them."

Extractivism is bad for people & planet.

A photo of two diggers by a mine with a purple and orange hue. Over the top block highlighted text in orange and purple says 'Extractivism & economics'. Extractivism is a system based on the extraction - and exploitation - of natural resources. It comes with significant social and environmental impacts including climate breakdown and huge inequality. The term originated in Latin America from academics and grassroots activists. It stems from the ‘extractivismo’ discourse which centres the lands and communities directly affected by extractive projects." A photo of a protest banner with a slogan in Spanish is below.

The environment as an externality? That's exactly how is works under an extractivist system.

Text says: Since 2021, the resurgence of fighting has caused the displacement of more than seven million* people taking refuge in other countries, often in precarious living conditions. Below is a photo of displaced people taking shelter in a centre around the city it shows lots of people and children in a hall. The source of the figure quoted as 'more than seven million' is peace direct. The conflict has left school, health and economic infrastructure at a standstill and there is widespread violence against civilians, including rape, murder and looting. The conflict is also threatening biodiversity in the area. The conflict is a reflection of a series of deeper problems: institutional weakness, greed for resources, regional and national interference, poor distribution of wealth, corruption and community exclusion.

School, health, and economic infrastructure are at a standstill and millions of people have been displaced.

Bold highlighted title says: What has the response been? Text says: When M23 captured Goma in 2012 they were swiftly pushed back & there was a lot of intentional pressure. This time regional and international leaders have been reticent to take sides. There are some mediation efforts going on but they are struggling to produce concrete results. The Congolese population demands the immediate withdrawal of M23 & respect for national sovereignty. Below is a newspaper headline that says Angola ends mediation role in DRC-Rwanda conflict amid failed talk.

Joseph Kabila was reported as being in North Kivu, an area occupied by the M23.

Although Congolese citizens are not prohibited from traveling to the areas occupied by the M23 movement, his presence raises questions.

Bold highlighted title says: Who are M23?. Text says: M23 is a rebel group formed from a mutiny of veterans. Reports from the UN & human rights organisations show Rwanda to be providing military support for M23, which Rwanda denies despite the evidence. The situation of the Congolese Tutsi ethnic group adds a complex identity dimension to this conflict. Eastern DRC is a mineral rich region with minerals that are crucial for technology and the green transition (cobalt, tungsten, etc) and this is another factor in the conflict. Beside is a photo of a block of Tungsten.

As well as this, the former president of the DRC, Joseph Kabila's shadow still hangs over the dynamics of the East, especially since his name often comes up in informal discussions behind the scenes of local alliances.

All the slides have a dark blue background with bold, highlighted text that says A brief explanation of the situation in eastern DRC. 'Since the end of 2021, the east of the DRC has been plunged into a serious security crisis. The armed group M23 was beaten in 2013 but returned in 2021 with attacks against the Congolese army (FARDC).' And a map of North and South Kivu where most of the conflict is. The conflict escalated in January this year when M23 advanced rapidly, seizing the city of Goma, killing hundreds and wounding thousands, and the town of Bukavu in Feb. Below is a photo of a street in Goma with flat roofed houses running down the side.

Here's our brief explainer on the situation in Eastern DRC ⬇️

Join our next webinar to help you bring doughnut econ into your teaching - tomorrow!

Green and black background with two arms in an arm wrestle. Curved white text says 'Sustainable competitiveness' is a contradiction. ‘Sustainable competitiveness’ is a new EU buzzword. The free market is defined by open competition. ‘Sustainable competitiveness’ claims to balance economic growth with environmental protection. This is a contradiction. it frames ecological & social concerns within a growth-driven logic that prioritises profitability. Beside is a photo of a world with text which says: Which risks protecting this (& us!). If we keep framing green policies in a competitive lens we risk: Increasing inequality, Delaying systemic change, Prolonging extractivism as Europe competes for materials for the transition.

In Jan, Rethinking Economics hosted a @eeb.org workshop to discuss the EU's latest buzzword.

Here are some key things that came out of it.

Read more in our latest blog post: bit.ly/42g6BNi

Our next webinar to support you to get doughnut econ into your teaching is coming up next Thursday!

📅 Thursday 17th April - 9-10.30am BST

Sign up here: actionnetwork.org/events/dough...

What do you think? Is it time to detangle the two?

Let us know!

Read more: bit.ly/4js61lm

Pink background with pink circles and text that says: The term originated in the 1970s and its influence has grown. It’s premised on the view that capitalism & it’s growth is incompatible with a safe environment and a socially just society. It explicitly calls for a post-capitalist social structure. But there have been mixed messages by proponents of the wellbeing economy about growth and capitalism. It is not clear whether they believe a wellbeing economy is post-capitalist and anti-growth. Below is a photo of a person shrugging their shoulders with a question mark beside them.

Having strong stances on degrowth and capitalism is one of the areas in which the two ideologies differ.

Pink background with pink circles and text saying: "The wellbeing economy is an alternative economic vision of the economy that centres participation, community and redistribution all within ecological limits. It targets a broad audience and has lots of supporters. It draws a lot of ideas from the post-growth movement. There’s an idea that by centering wellbeing more people will be brought onboard than if it had an ‘ideology-based’ name - ie degrowth." Beside is a photo of graffiti that says 'the only sustainable growth is degrowth'.

The wellbeing economy is built on ideas from the degrowth movement but there's actually quite a bit of difference between the two movements.

🗓 Webinar 23/4: "From Speculation to Sustainability" 🚀 Join 19 global orgs to Reclaim Finance for People and Planet! Limited spots – Secure yours now! →

Our financial system is broken - we can all agree

So how do we create a sustainable system for people & planet?

Join this webinar with @roberthockett.bsky.social, @maxjerneck.bsky.social & Ellen Brown, Public Banking Institute

📅 Wednesday 23 April (7-8.30pm CEST)

▶️ monreform.org/webinar-hock...

capitalism frames sustainability as a "personal choice" while fossil fuel companies collect $7 million in subsidies every minute.

this isn't about your choice of straw — it's about power.

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Get the chance to join the International Conference on Financing for Development ⬇️

@unyouthaffairs.bsky.social will support five 18-35-year-old's from: Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, State of Palestine, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia to join!

Deadline: Thursday 10th April

Apply: bit.ly/3RB0b54

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Got a great idea for an event, campaign, or activity?

Apply for our activity fund!

Deadline: 30th April

Apply: bit.ly/47VDwHT

Background is a collage of newspaper clippings on top are clipboards with text about University of Warwick failing on climate. Of the 36 modules we graded at Warwick University only 2 discussed sustainability and the environment and both did so from a mainstream perspective. Beside is another clipboard saying that econ courses should teach basic understanding of climate science - otherwise people might fail to see the negative impact of just replacing petrol cars with electric. Beside is a photo of an electric car.

By understanding key climate issues you can see through false solutions and come up with important ideas for how the economy can actually support the planet (not simply extract from it!)

Background is a collage of newspaper clippings on top are clipboards with text about University of St. Andrews, City Uni and Uni of Sterling failing on climate. Of the 27 modules we graded at St Andrews only 2 discussed sustainability and the environment and both did so from a mainstream perspective. At Sterling of the 10 modules only 2 did and both did from a mainstream perspective. At City no modules covered these subjects.

In order to be able to think like a 21st Century economist you need to have an understanding of core environmental issues and concepts - from sustainable food systems to just resource distribution.

Background is a collage of newspaper clippings on top are clipboards with text about University of Nottingham and Uni of Glasgow failing on climate. Of the 32 modules we graded at University of Nottingham only 4 discussed sustainability and the environment and all four did so from a mainstream perspective. At Glasgow of the 36 modules only 2 did and both did from a mainstream perspective.

We need econ courses that don't only treat the environment as an externality.

We need econ courses that acknowledge the interconnection between the economy and the environment.

Background is a collage of newspaper clippings on top are clipboards with text about Loughborough University and Swansea Uni failing on climate. Of the 22 modules we gradeed at Loughborough University only 2 discussed sustainability and the environment and both did so from a mainstream perspective. At Swansea of the 26 modules only 3 did and all three did from a mainstream perspective.

Here are UK uni's that don't deliver when it comes to teaching essential climate knowledge as part of their econ courses.

If you looking at studying econ it's important to know how well a course does in integrating climate into the econ course.

New York Times article with headline 'Earth's 10 Hottest Years on Record Are the Last 10'. Block red text with black background over the top says 'Does your uni teach you about the climate crisis?'. Beside text explains that many UK econ courses fail to teach climate crisis. In fact, 75% of UK unis don't teach any ecological economics according to our report into the state of UK econ education. Behind is a collage of newspaper clippings.

The climate crisis is here and it connects all struggles against inequality.

But the majority of UK econ courses fail to give it the space and teaching it requires.

Read more in our report: www.rethinkeconomics.org/resources/ed...

Pink and blue gradient background with a photo of an old computer in the bottom left. Pink text says: Join our webinar! Doughnut Economics for University: How to bring the doughnut into your teaching. 31st March, 17th April. They cover the same content so you only need to join one!

Today! ⬇️

Are you an academic keen to include doughnut econ in your teaching?

With @doughnuteconomics.bsky.social we're running a webinar to support this emerging academic community of practice.

⏰ 31st March (6-7.30pm CET)

Register: bit.ly/4hLSp2Q

(There'll be a second if you can't make today's)

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Learn essential campaigning skills with our Local Group Training!

🗓️ Wednesdays (from 16th April)
📍On Zoom
🚨Deadline: March 31st, 7am UTC

Sign up: www.rethinkeconomics.org/resources/tr...

Orange background with an infographic showing each of the reviewed unis in different circles with different scores. The larger score and bigger circle denotes unis that did better for example Soas & Greenwich while Loughborough and Nottingham rated especially low. Beside is a black and white photo of people wearing mortarboards with text saying 'want to find out more about each uni's rating? Take a look at the full report!'

Some unis score remarkably higher than others 👀👀

Orange background with text boxes explaining that econ courses are structured in a similar way across all UK unis with a core curriculum of microeconomics, macro & maths modules. A graphic of the UK says that there's some difference between England/Wales and Scotland. And a photo of Oxford Uni says there is also with Oxford & Cambridge. Beside are different coloured text boxes from green to red with the different categories we rated unis by from 'teching econ for the 21st century' and 'in need of a wake-up call' to 'stuck in the past' to 'dead & buried' beside is a photo of a coffin.

The report gives an overview of how UK econ courses work, the typical topics they cover, and the differences you might see from uni to uni.

We then rated them so you can make an informed decision.