the tale of two kates: eco-nomics disrupted:
reclaiming the ground
Wow. A gorgeous sunny Saturday and yet from all corners of Cornwall we came, from the worlds of surfing, cartoons, film production, art, research, energy, community, climate change, social science, tourism, plastic pollution, volunteering, permaculture, farming, design, transition, editing, walking, guiding, justice, refugee support and education ... to talk economics.
Because although participating in economic activity is just ONE of the things we do as human beings - our economy has somehow taken hold of *every* part of our lives.
And there are many - and increasingly so - who would say that instead of delivering good things to ALL, what we are seeing is a Tale of Two Everywheres. Some have, and some don't. And a few are getting much MUCH more;
and many are getting less, and less. Repeated across the world.
So we decided to get to grips with this. It was a very good day.
My thought, once again, is deeply provoked.
We talked about change, about facts, and behaviour; about ecological and diverse and neoclassical models, about the geezers who invented the model we use now (based on the diagram of a radiator (no kidding - our current economic paradigm is based on *plumbing*)) and its drawbacks and flaws, spectacularly so when it comes to serving - or not serving - people who find themselves at the bottom of the pile of entitlement; and watched and heard and chewed over the new ideas being played and experimented and rolled around by Kate Rich of Feral Trade in Bristol, and Kate Raworth of Doughnut Economics.
Because although participating in economic activity is just ONE of the things we do as human beings - our economy has somehow taken hold of *every* part of our lives.
And there are many - and increasingly so - who would say that instead of delivering good things to ALL, what we are seeing is a Tale of Two Everywheres. Some have, and some don't. And a few are getting much MUCH more;
and many are getting less, and less. Repeated across the world.
So we decided to get to grips with this. It was a very good day.
My thought, once again, is deeply provoked.
We talked about change, about facts, and behaviour; about ecological and diverse and neoclassical models, about the geezers who invented the model we use now (based on the diagram of a radiator (no kidding - our current economic paradigm is based on *plumbing*)) and its drawbacks and flaws, spectacularly so when it comes to serving - or not serving - people who find themselves at the bottom of the pile of entitlement; and watched and heard and chewed over the new ideas being played and experimented and rolled around by Kate Rich of Feral Trade in Bristol, and Kate Raworth of Doughnut Economics.
These are some of the definitions or understandings of what we thought "economics" could mean ... check out that diversity...
"economics is the study of the flows of [something] around the world"
"economics is a structure that enables "push" - enables people to "get" what they want"
"abstract, models than have nothing to do with reality, just looking at one variable"
"economics is how we describe/manage the flow and/or accumultation of transferable energy"
"economics is the art and science of making the planet work"
"economics is the mechanism which drives the relationship between inout, output and profit, mostly financial"
So... we don't all have the same working definition.
Interesting.
and here are some of the questions we rolled around our minds and hearts:
why do 40% of the working population in Cornwall earn less than the Real Living Wage after three rounds of EU structural funds?
why did we all assume that the Feral Trade model would not be legal, when in fact it's perfectly legitimate - how have we allowed ourselves to restrict our imaginations like this?
how do we talk with young people?
how do they talk with us?
are we missing a trick by only thinking about how we engage with those in seats of economic power, as they tend to be rather exclusively men?
how can we use the example of the tipping point in the plastics revolution to encourage people to wrap their minds and arms round the issue of the economy, given than Mr Attenborough may not be within our price range?
how can we enable people to think that the DoughNut is something *I* can do something about?
how do we begin to recraft and re-see the notion of growth, as not just about bigger?
how do we reframe Brexit through the model of a new economic structure - could we make it work *better* than before?
there are loads of brilliant examples of solutions, inventions and new models around - we just don't let them appear on our collective radar - maybe we don't see them as examples of economic activity?
how much of our collective effort is currently about clearing up the mess being left by the current economic model, such as poverty, housing, austerity, food, natural systems, health?
how do we reclaim the language and lexicon around growth, resilience, and systems thinking?
========================
and here are some of the thoughts that have
begun to emerge, slowly, but with guts ...
"economics" - rightly or wrongly - is the set of beliefs that underpins *everything* we do - in terms of housing, health, energy, the environment, our natural systems, education, every SINGLE sector, health, farming, food, travel, poverty, austerity, climate - the lot.
We can't leave it to economists.
perhaps this is about simply *deciding* to call *ourselves* economists - because we all are, yet defer to those who insist they know better
economics is both over-simplified (into ONE model) and over- complicated (with a rash of impenetrable phrases and head-wrecking jargon that keeps us feeling stupid and paralysed) by economists mistaking themselves for scientists rather than idealogues
kate rich's feral trade is a "naturally organism-sized" organisation - how have we been bamboozled for so long into assuming that's a bad thing when it makes perfect sense?
there is definitely an opportunity to talk and engage more
with the Environmental Growth Strategy team
the circular economy is a sensible idea, but needs to be used as a model alongside other models that bring in the other important issues, like social well being, autonomy, the ability to thrive
this isn't just about finding a way to be acccepted by the status quo; this is about getting to the stage where the status quo will see the value in coming to find new ideas and talking to the sorts of people who were sitting round the room who have those ideas
trickle down economics has been discredited - more like trick or treat, with the trickle remaining just that, never more, and heading downwards *if you're lucky* (more trick than trickle) ,
and all the treats heading up
imagine if we had in the room someone from each portion of the DoughNut diagram -
all 21 sections...imagine the collaboration possible!
there's a huge potential in linking into other networks (business, farming, tourism) as this pertains to everyone
this is about influencing the influencers
the Cornwall norm is the small business (unlike some of the recent economic stated objectives) - there are plenty of people who think differently from the growth imperative
there are many students who are already interested in breaking out of uninspiring models... there is such hope...
and here are our first 3 actions:
1 form a simple alternative economics think and do force for Cornwall (but all Cafe Disruptif members VERY WELCOME - we need each other!) that can begin to grapple with the new, exciting ideas around thriving, justice and restorative models and figure out how to leave any dessicated, over-chewed ones behind
2 identify more people and networks we can engage with
3 look at the three areas of development:
- opportunities to learn more;
- opportunities to gather and curate inspiration from the vast array (40% plus of existing activity, it seems!) of alternative models and initiaves *already* in action; and
- opportunities to find expected and unexpected routes and means to connect, communicate and make these ideas contagious
Not a bad start for a Saturday in early spring with not one technical "economist" in the room ...
.
You can see more about Kate Raworth here::
You can see more about Kate rich here::
The Dancing Guy!! (back by popular demand... )
Why Facts Don't Convince People (and please excuse the rather outdated cartoon depictions...!)
So - in a nutshell - our plan?
To develop a new economics think-and-do-force for Cornwall.
All welcome.
Just drop us an email at wildly brilliant @ outlook.com ; or add a comment. Thank you for all those already received ...We're pretty excited.
And are *completely* open to new ideas. Join us.