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We humans have created an economic story that is not sustainable.

Our current social norms and rules prioritize extraction, profit maximization, accumulation of money, and continuous growth over human wellbeing and the survival of living systems on our planet.

The scale of the problem and the barriers to change can feel overwhelming.

But the transition to a new economic system has already started.

There are millions of enterprises and individuals voluntarily choosing to operate according to a new story and new rules.

We are choosing to prioritize people and planet over profit maximization.

Regenerative economy, circular economy, doughnut economics, economy for the common good, solidarity economy, inclusive economy,  wellbeing economy, mindful economics, purpose economy, B economy, sustainable economy, post-growth economy…

Networks and communities within the movement may use different language, but common themes are emerging.

Old Story

Human Nature

Humans are inherently selfish, economically rational, and independent.

Money

Money has inherent value and should be accumulated. It is created from debt with interest and requires continuous growth for repayment.

Purpose of Enterprise

Maximize short-term profits, accumulate financial capital, and continuously grow.

Purpose of Government

Enforce contracts, underwrite debt, and provide enough redistribution, security, and infrastructure to enable the ongoing extraction and accumulation of capital.

People and Planet

Externalities. First maximize profits. Then redistribute surplus through philanthropy or taxes to address negative consequences.

Change

Happens through hierarchy and planning. 

Experts who are “developed” develop and “empower” others. We wait for them to solve problems.

Measuring Success

Society: GDP and growth

Enterprise: profits and growth

New Story

Human Nature

Humans are inherently social, predictably irrational, and interdependent.

Money

Money is an evolving social construct and a useful medium of exchange when it is circulated. If money is created from debt without interest, growth is not required.

Purpose of Enterprise

Create value and enable humans and all life to thrive within planetary boundaries.

Purpose of Government

Create rules that reflect our values and our vision for the future. Ensure the rules we agree on are applied fairly and consistently to all.

People and Planet

Embedded. All choices prioritize people and planet. Use systems thinking and innovative design to be regenerative and distributive from the start.

Change

Happens through relationships and validated learning. 

Everyone is a changemaker. We speed up the transition through creativity and collective action.

Measuring Success

Society: social and environmental metrics

Enterprise: impact, sustainability, triple bottom line

How do we transition to the new story?

Choose. Communicate. Collaborate.

1. Choose

The new economy movement is emerging because millions of us are choosing to prioritize people and planet in our daily lives and in our work. This is a way that everyone can get involved.

 

  • Prioritize wellbeing, time in nature, relationships, caregiving, creating, civic engagement, and ways of living that are undervalued in the old system.
 
  • Buy less but buy better. Source from, partner with, work for, and invest in new economy enterprises with shared values.
 
  • Start where you are and expand your practice over time to include choices in other areas of your life and work.

2. Communicate

Communicating about practical, personal action can inspire others and encourage them to make a transition. It raises the bar. It makes us feel less alone and overwhelmed. It mainstreams the new economic story.

 

  • Talk about the choices you’re making in your daily life and work with friends, family, community, colleagues, customers, suppliers, and service providers.
 
  • Experiment and share information. 
 
  • Recognize and celebrate the work that others are doing.

3. Collaborate

This transition is too big for any one individual, organization, or network. Collaboration is how we go from voluntary choices at a personal and organizational level to changing the story and rules at a system level. 

 

  • Find others that prioritize people and planet and form support groups for collective learning and problem solving.

 

  • Partner and trade with each other. Circulate resources within the emerging new economy.

 

  • Join together to coordinate campaigns, new initiatives, and policy action around issues of common concern.

There are real challenges ahead…

Corporate Incentives

Political Incentives

Debt-Based Monetary Systems

But history shows us that changing conditions, new stories, and collective action can lead to tipping points and rapid systemic change.

According to decades of research on social movements and the spread of innovation, when 10-25% of people in a community start making choices according to a new story, it triggers rapid change in social norms and system level rules.

To speed things up, we need to increase the visibility of our innovators and early adopters and make it easier (and more fun!) for the early majority to get involved.

Diffusion of Innovation by @bryanMMathers is licenced under CC-BY-ND

“You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.”

– Buckminster Fuller

Are you part of the new story?

Learn more about the marketplace commons and get involved.