Life Beyond Growth
By Alan AtKisson
Alternatives and Complements to GDP-Measured Growth as a Framing Concept for Social Progress
2012 Annual Survey Report of the Institute for Studies in Happiness, Economy, and Society — ISHES (Tokyo, Japan)
Table of Contents
Preface
A Note on Sources and References
Introduction
Chapter 1: The Historical Foundations of Economic Growth
Chapter 2:The Rise (and Possible Future Fall) of the Growth Paradigm
Chapter 3: The Building Blocks [...]
Speeding Through a School Zone
by Elizabeth Sawin
— June 4, 2003 —
It is easy to see the assumptions of previous eras. They stand out so clearly.
“Kings are divine.”
“Women are too dim-witted to vote.”
“Slaves are sub-human property.”
It is much harder to see the assumptions of our own time, but as an old assumption begins to loose some of its power to explain the world, it becomes [...]
Questions to Shape the Future
by Elizabeth Sawin
— January 15, 2003 —
Viagra may help to save endangered species. That was the odd sounding headline of a recent Reuters story.
It turns out that Viagra has reduced demand for reindeer antler velvet and for the sex organs of Canadian seals. It may be helping green turtles, geckos, and sea horses, too. Parts of these animals are used [...]
Why is the World Angry About the US Farm Bill?
by Hal Hamilton
— September 19, 2002 —
Editorials and proclamations around the world express dismay about the 2002 U.S. farm bill. Media releases from the world summit in Johannesburg were full of criticisms by people in the developing world.
They blame us for hypocritically touting free trade while we subsidize exports that are dumped in their markets. Their local farmers are pushed [...]
Up is not Down, Black is not White
by Elizabeth Sawin
— July 1, 2002 —
Once kings claimed that their power came directly from God. Once lawmakers decreed that slaves were not human beings. Once men said that women could not think clearly and therefore should not vote.
But black is not white just because the powerful say so.
We no longer view kings as divine or the descendants of slaves [...]
