About this item
In the tradition of E. F. Schumacher's Small Is Beautiful, renowned economist Clair Brown argues persuasively for a new economics built upon equality, sustainability, and right living."Buddhist Economics will give guidance to all those who seek peace, fairness, and environmental sustainability." -Jeffrey Sachs, author of The Age of Sustainable Development.Traditional economics measures the ways in which we spend our income, but doesn't attribute worth to the crucial human interactions that give our lives meaning. Clair Brown, an economics professor at U.C. Berkeley and a practicing Buddhist, has developed a holistic model, one based on the notion that quality of life should be measured by more than national income. Brown advocates an approach to organizing the economy that embraces rather than skirts questions of values, sustainability, and equity.
About the Author
Six years ago I began teaching Buddhist Economics at UC Berkeley (where I am an economic professor) , because I realized that politicians and the public don't understand that we already know how to reduce inequality and we have the technology to move to a clean energy economy. Our two major economic challenges - global warming and inequality - have sickened the earth and caused social unrest. Buddhist economics integrates global sustainability and shared prosperity in a holistic economic model, and my book lays out eight steps for how governments, companies, and people can create an economy that provides a meaningful, sustainable way of life. We must be courageous to demand that our governments and companies transition to a sustainable clean energy economy, with economic growth based on providing well-being to everyone and not just more income to the rich. Together we can move beyond consumerism, and be connected to others with compassion and exist in harmony with Nature. We can be happy!
