The Economics of Happiness

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THE ECONOMICS OF HAPPINESS, THE MOVIE – Economic globalization has led to a massive expansion in the scale and power of big business and banking. It has also worsened nearly every problem we face: fundamentalism and ethnic conflict; climate chaos and species extinction; financial instability and unemployment. There are personal costs too. For the majority of people on the planet life is becoming increasingly stressful. We have less time for friends and family and we face mounting pressures at work.

The Economics of Happiness describes a world moving simultaneously in two opposing directions. On the one hand, government and big business continue to promote globalization and the consolidation of corporate power. At the same time, all around the world people are resisting those policies, demanding a re-regulation of trade and finance—and, far from the old institutions of power, they’re starting to forge a very different future. Communities are coming together to re-build more human scale, ecological economies based on a new paradigm — an economics of localization.

We hear from a chorus of voices from six continents including Vandana Shiva, Bill McKibben, David Korten, Michael Shuman, Juliet Schor, Zac Goldsmith and Samdhong Rinpoche – the Prime Minister of Tibet’s government in exile. They tell us that climate change and peak oil give us little choice: we need to localize, to bring the economy home. The good news is that as we move in this direction we will begin not only to heal the earth but also to restore our own sense of well-being. The Economics of Happiness restores our faith in humanity and challenges us to believe that it is possible to build a better world.

 

© 2011 The Economics of Happiness

Photograph by Xanetia

2 thoughts on “The Economics of Happiness

  1. I guess I’m on the cutting edge. My project in Dunedin Florida is growing and the Oakland chapter of the Economic Renaissance is 98% ready (1/27/11) for official launch, and it is up and running! The Economic Renaissance is a economic localization project that gives people incentive to shop local. People that shop from the Economic Renaissance participating businesses receive discounts averaging 10% – 35% and donations delivered to the local cause of their choice that has enrolled in this program. It is FREE to enroll, even Media Roots can use this FREE fundraiser to develop a stream of income from purchases made by all the supporters in the local territory. In Oakland, I love Vo’s Restaurant, Yang Chow, Smoky’s Day of the Dead Coffee, Anulas Cafe and everybody else involved. If you have never been to any of these businesses listed at the website, you will be thrilled to realize they are waiting for your supporters to purchase from them. The site should be finished with enrollment documents on the site in a few weeks. Go to http://www.economicrenaissance.com to save money on LOCAL purchases and keep have your donation directed to your favorite local community group, keeping commerce circulating in the community. I will be back in April to expand the program. Cheers’

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