The Essentials of Economic Sustainability.
- 1st ed.
- 1 online resource (168 pages)
Cover -- Contents -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- 1 The Essential Questions of Economic Sustainability -- The Great Transformation -- Energy: The Ultimate Source of All Economic Value -- The Economic Productivity of Society -- Differences Between Economic and Social Values -- Uniqueness of Ethical Value -- Differences Among Types of Value Matter -- Emergent Properties of Societies and Economies -- Rational and Irrational Economic Decisions -- Economic Priority of the Present -- Economic Incentives for Sustainability -- Social and Ethical Incentives for Sustainability -- Study and Discussion Guide for Individual Readers and Group Leaders or Instructors -- 2 The Essential Hierarchies of Economic Sustainability -- A Question of Worldviews -- Hierarchy of Sustainability: Nature, Society, and Economy -- Higher Levels Define Purpose, Lower Levels Affect Possibilities -- Higher Levels Change More Slowly -- Higher Levels Are Stronger -- Higher Levels Set Limits -- Higher Levels Define Principles -- The Uniqueness of Human Intentionality -- Hierarchy of Intentionality: Ethical, Social, and Individual -- Higher Levels Define Purpose, Lower Levels Affect Possibilities -- Higher Levels Are Slower and More Durable -- Higher Levels Set Limits -- Alignment of Hierarchies Is Essential for Sustainability -- Study and Discussion Guide for Individual Readers and Group Leaders or Instructors -- 3 Ecological Principles Essential to Economic Sustainability -- Sustainability Is Anthropocentric -- Principles of Sustainability Are Laws of Nature -- Holism: An Essential Principle of Ecological Sustainability -- Ignorance of Holism Has Consequences -- Diversity: An Essential Principle of Ecological Sustainability -- Ignorance of Diversity Has Consequences -- Diversity: Best Single Indicator of Ecological Health. Interdependence: An Essential Principle of Ecological Sustainability -- Ignorance of Interdependence Has Consequences -- Ecological Principles Apply to Social Relationships -- Ecological Principles Apply to Economic Relationships -- Study and Discussion Guide for Individual Readers and Group Leaders or Instructors -- 4 Social Principles Essential to Economic Sustainability -- The Significance of Society -- The Uniqueness of Human Society -- Social Values and Principles -- Trust: An Essential Principle of Social Sustainability -- Betrayal of Trust Has Consequences -- Kindness: An Essential Principle of Social Sustainability -- Lack of Kindness Has Consequences -- True Principles Are Internally Consistent -- Courage: An Essential Principle of Social Sustainability -- Lack of Courage Has Consequences -- Social Principles Apply to Relationships With Nature -- Social Principles Apply to Economic Relationships -- Industrial Development Devalues Social Relationships -- Study and Discussion Guide for Individual Readers and Group Leaders or Instructors -- 5 Essential Economic Principles of Sustainability -- Individuality Is Essential for Sustainability -- Principles of Economics Are Principles of Individual Behavior -- Scarcity: An Essential Principle of Economic Sustainability -- Scarcity and the Law of Demand -- Scarcity and the Law of Supply -- Scarcity and Economic Value -- Efficiency: An Essential Principle of Economic Sustainability -- Economic Efficiency Has Consequences -- Sovereignty: An Essential Principle of Economic Sustainability -- Lack of Sovereignty Has Consequences -- Sovereignty in Relations Among Nations -- Economic Principles Are Relevant to Relationships With Nature -- Economic Principles Are Relevant to Social Relationships -- Study and Discussion Guide for Individual Readers and Group Leaders or Instructors. 6 Essential Characteristics of Sustainable Economies -- Economies Are Living Systems -- Characteristics of Living and Nonliving Systems -- Living Economies Are Holistic -- Living Economies Are Dynamic -- Living Economies Are Individualistic -- Living Economies Are Purposeful -- Living Economies Are Guided by Principles -- Three Rs of Economic Sustainability -- Balancing Resourcefulness, Resilience, and Regeneration -- Managing Sustainable Organizations -- Necessary and Sufficient Conditions for Sustainability -- Economic Sustainability Will Require Radical Redesign -- Authentic Sustainability: New Worldview, New Thinking -- Study and Discussion Guide for Individual Readers and Group Leaders or Instructors -- 7 Essential Characteristics of Markets in Sustainable Economies -- All Economies Are Mixed: Market and Planned -- Markets Facilitate Choices -- Market Values Are Affected by Individuality, Form, Place, and Time -- Markets Ration, Reward, and Allocate Resources -- Markets Facilitate Trade Among Nations -- Markets Provide Incentives for Economic Innovation -- Markets Create Opportunities for Profits -- Essential Characteristics of Markets in Sustainable Economies -- Market Efficiency: Operational and Allocative -- Today's Markets: Efficient but Not Effective -- Free Trade Requires Economic Sovereignty -- Other Essential Characteristics of Global Markets -- Study and Discussion Guide for Individual Readers and Group Leaders or Instructors -- 8 Essential Functions of Government for Economic Sustainability -- Ensuring Autonomy and Equity -- Ensuring Economic Autonomy and Equity: Competitive Markets -- Managing the Money Supply -- Stabilizing Prices: Inflation, Deflation -- Creating Money -- Regulating Financial Institutions -- Coordinating Monetary and Fiscal Policies -- Internalizing Economic "Externalities" -- Ensuring Employment Opportunities. Regulating International Trade -- Maintaining Market Infrastructure -- Ensuring Social Autonomy and Equity -- Restraining Economic Exploitation -- Maintaining the Consent of the Governed -- Balancing Rights and Responsibilities -- Ensuring Rights of Future Generations -- Discretionary Functions of Government -- Essential Functions Must Take Priority -- Study and Discussion Guide for Individual Readers and Group Leaders or Instructors -- 9 The Essential Mission of Sustainable Economies -- Economic Growth Is Not Sustainable -- The New Steady State Economy -- A New Mission: Happiness, Quality of Life -- Enough to Meet the Needs of All -- Prosperity Without Growth -- Quality Employment Opportunities -- Revenues to Sustain Prosperity -- Economic Sustainability: Not a Sacrifice but an Opportunity -- Happiness Has No Limits -- Study and Discussion Guide for Individual Readers and Group Leaders or Instructors -- Annotated Bibliography -- Index -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- J -- K -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- Q -- R -- S -- T -- U -- V -- W.
Though much has been written about the negative impacts of economic development on natural ecosystems and civil societies, few viable alternatives to the prevailing economic paradigms have been suggested. John Ikerd moves the debate forward. Ikerd outlines the basic principles and concepts essential to economic sustainability. Some of these concepts are capitalist, some are socialist, and others are general principles validated by philosophy or common sense. Putting them together, he proposes something fundamentally different: instead of apocalyptic pronouncements, he offers possibilities. Readers of any political or ideological persuasion will find his brief book engaging, informative, optimistic, and refreshing.