Category Archives: Economics

One thing we have learnt this week – The ecological limits of work

The ecological limits of work is not something I’ve ever considered much.  I imagine my surprise yesterday when I read an article with a headline saying we are going to have to reduce our hours of work to 9 per … Continue reading

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One thing we have learnt this week – new measure of wellbeing

The green party in England and Wales wants a new measure of wellbeing they have announced this week.  Since GDP has captured economics in the modern age some people have been searching for a better measure of happiness and economic … Continue reading

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One thing we have learnt this week – pollution affects economic growth

This week there has been a first, a government admits pollution affects economic growth.  The Chinese government has stated that economic growth is going to be lower (only about 6%- although in reality its probably much lower than this).  One … Continue reading

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Robots part II

Up until now robots and automation has been peripheral to most of our lives -insufficient technological progress in AI and globalisation have saved us from it.  However this does look about to change.  Just last Saturday the Guardian magazine did … Continue reading

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One thing we have learnt this week – volunteering

I heard a very interesting programme on volunteering this week.  This is something I have been mulling over for sometime and this programme covered much of what I have been mulling over.  Bank of England Chief Economist Andy Haldane who … Continue reading

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Good stewardship and LED’s

I have recently bought some more LED’s. With the EU’s incandescent bulb phaseout complete (at least for 240V – a low voltage bulb efficiency mandate is mooted) the manufacturers have really worked on technical improvements to alternatives and prices have … Continue reading

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A Community benefit society and fuel poverty

I read in yesterday’s Observer newspaper that a community benefit society is being set up in Scotland to provide cheap energy to households in fuel poverty.  Unlike a COOP a community benefit society is set up to benefit the wider … Continue reading

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Citizen’s income

In the Guardian today Paul Mason raised one of the most interesting economic ideas ever suggested, that of a citizen’s income.  This idea has been around for years but has recently surfaced again during the UK election campaign since the … Continue reading

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One thing we have learnt this week – economics is not working

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have spoken out today, essentially saying for many in the West economics is not working.  You could also argue that economics is not working for many people in developing countries as well.  While incomes … Continue reading

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Community currencies

Community currencies (or local currencies as we called them) are something we covered in our book.  We wrote “The idea behind a local currency (technically speaking, a voucher for legal reasons) is to help build a vibrant local economy, keep … Continue reading

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