Transformations and Rethinking Development - Thanks to the Pandemic

 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305750X20303600?dgcid=raven_sd_recommender_email

From the journal, World Development Volume 138, February 2021, 105233 -

Article title: " Post-pandemic transformations: How and why COVID-19 requires us to rethink development".

SSDD simply won't do anymore.  Neoliberal economics, the Oligarchy & Plutocracy Era, and the days of Crony-Casino-Disaster-Surveillance Capitalism are all at the beginning of their end.  Most likely, the combination of democratic socialism plus Adam Smith capitalism*** (a Mixed Economy) - which most free countries now have to varying degrees - will become stronger.  That, coupled with a genuinely eco-ethical approach to Nature & its resources, will be the new paradigm.

[*** As I've pointed out before, Adam Smith was in favor of small business, not mega business.  He denigrated the concept of monopolies, and rather than support them, he decried the so-called "Masters of the Universe" - the Big Biz men who thought they ruled the world.  His idea was for small business to benefit common people.]

Perhaps then, more people will understand that when we damage ecosystems because of genuine necessity, we should take care to keep the damage as small as possible.  Why?  Because one of the many key services provided by the ecosystems of Nature is:  they are natural barriers to the spread of disease.

The article at the link above addresses the following topics re post-pandemic development:

1.  science and policy;

2.  resilient economies;

3.  the nexus between the citizenry and the State; and

4.  new ways of thinking & acting in relation to all the above and sustainability.

While the article is about world development, especially re the North-South (in general) global inequality, I believe its concepts can be applied more regionally and locally, and to more equitable "development" in "developed" countries.  These ideas, I think, should start at the grassroots level (county, city).  Then State or Province and National politicians will be more amenable to instituting needed support at their levels.  From the bottom up is usually (not always) better than from the top down.  Those at the top sometimes seem to be out of touch with the practical reality of the everyday/common people.

It's highly probable that many researchers and some politicians, policy makers, and a few private companies (& others) have been working on sustainability & equity (in the ethical sense) since at least the 2008 Crash.  Now we need to kick that into high gear.  A massive shift is on the horizon, and there's no time to waste in getting to it.

Tick-tock.

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Not only my opinion.  Be Well

Five pillars for post-neoliberal development

 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305750X2030485X

Like Germany, Austria, Ireland, Portugal, Denmark, and several other countries outside North America, the Netherlands [with the journal article at the link above] demonstrates that it is light-years ahead of the USA when it comes to the concept of sustainability.  Kudos.

The article is right on the mark.  The full title is:

"Planning for a world beyond COVID-19: Five pillars for post-neoliberal development".

This is the type of thinking we need if organized human existence is to survive and thrive in the Anthropocene.

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Not only my opinion.  Be Well

Preventing the Circular Economy (CE) Concept From Disintegrating

 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921344917302835?dgcid=raven_sd_recommender_email

In the journal article at the link above, the authors maintain that the CE concept may be in danger of collapse due to a lack of agreement among scholars & practitioners as to exactly what it means.  As a result, they say, certain important elements (e.g., social equity, sustainable development) of CE are slighted in planning.  [Keep in mind, this article was published almost three years ago.]

 After a detailed description of the paper's research methods, the article then presents "the first comprehensive and systematic analysis of CE definitions...".  Essentially--- solicited, written, and qualitative definitions of 114 CE terms/elements were coded, analyzed, and quantified.

Section "4. Conclusion" reveals the important results, and should be read by those working with the CE concept.  A few examples of the results follow:

1.  a much needed definition of CE;

2.  the suggestion that some of the authors of the solicited definitions have no idea what CE is really about; and,

3.  some of those authors entirely equate CE with recycling.

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In my view, the article contributes to reducing the lack of coherence in the CE arena.  I still maintain, though, that CE appears to be solidly wedded to the concept of "unlimited economic growth".  As such, it ignores the role of entropy in the biophysical world, and the common sense observation that Spaceship Earth is finite.  Relying on Julian Simon's contention that human inventiveness and production efficiency will overcome any obstacles is not realistic.  Nevertheless, given current political climates around the world, CE may be a good FIRST STEP (& only that) toward a genuinely sustainable habitat.  But first, CE researchers, policy makers, and practitioners need to cohere on what constitutes the Circular Economy.  If they don't, the concept likely will dissolve, fade away, or become nothing more than circularity for the sake of circularity.

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Not only my opinion.  Be Well

Key question in late 2020: what does a review of Circular Economy research show regarding CE's potential performance re the environment, sustainability, & consumers?

"The narrative of sustainability and circular economy - A longitudinal review of two decades of research", December, 2020---https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921344920303906

"Circularity for circularity's sake? Scoping review of assessment methods for environmental performance in the circular economy", September, 2020---https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352550920305236

The two journal articles at the links above arguably could be called the "Bible" of the current state of Circular Economy (CE) research and CE's potential performance regarding environmental problems, sustainability, and consumers.  At least, the two articles together are the "short form" of that Bible.  ["Short form" only because they are not book-length.]

If your interest in CE is not particularly in-depth, but still significant, at least read both Abstracts and Conclusions in these articles.

In my view, while the CE concept is popular and somewhat "Green", it's not sufficient in terms of its ecological and bioeconomical characteristics.  Those aspects of CE appear to be not totally lacking, but also not sufficient enough to address the overall Socio-Eco-Crisis that is upon us.

The Circular Economy concept is a young field of research, still evolving.  It may be that as it matures, it will serve as a good first step toward a complex solution to the human predicament.  As it stands now, however, it's not enough.  Currently, it's beginning to look like "circularity for circularity's sake", and not much else.

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Not only my opinion.  Be Well

p.s.  Diagram is from the Millennium Alliance for Humanity and the Biosphere (MAHB) at Stanford University.  https://mahb.stanford.edu/

Evolution of a Food Network as Urban Commons in Portugal

 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921800919308262

At the link above, the authors of a journal article dissect and analyze the qualities of an urban food network as a "commons" in Portugal.  A particular group of "prosumers" founded the network, and saw it through until its demise.  Though it eventually ended (for numerous reasons), it gave birth to other new food networks.  Along with Germany and several other European countries, Portugal is front and center in the search for ecological solutions to the human predicament in which we find ourselves.  Kudos!

Our current, globalized food supply system is fragile at best.  Especially during an emergency event such as a pandemic, that supply chain is often broken.  Humanity would benefit greatly from urban food networks... which go way beyond urban gardens.

Decades ago, a popular book by E.F. Schumacher, Small is Beautiful, had the subtitle: a study of economics as if people mattered.  The book stressed the importance of locally based economics, sustainability, and the appropriate use of technology.  In general, it eschewed the very idea of corporate globalization and neoliberal economics.

Unfortunately, after a relatively brief time of popularity (in the 1970's), the ideas presented in that text faded away in the minds of policy makers.  What a shame.

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Not only my opinion.  Stay Well

The Real Scoop on Interest Rates and Nominal GDP "Growth"

 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921800916307510

The research at the above link is somewhat of a blockbuster.  With an empirical approach, it shows that "...conventional monetary policy as operated by central banks for the past half-century is fundamentally flawed".  Among other things, the research demonstrates that low interest rates do not cause economic growth, and "if policy-makers really aimed at setting rates consistent with a recovery, they would need to raise them".

This study has been available for over two years, but apparently, largely ignored.  It also delves into the effects of "quantities" (e.g., QE) on an economy, and further, why environmentally sustainable projects are better for the economy as opposed to growth for growth's sake.  In short, the study provides solidly based evidence that neoliberal economics has failed overall.  Of course, that same economic path has benefitted the Upper Crust immeasurably... which is probably why this study has been mostly ignored by the Powers-That-Be, both public and private.

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Not only my opinion.  Stay Well

The Idea is Simple & Straightforward - The Implementation of it is Monumentally Complex

 Which "Idea"?  Because unlimited growth and overconsumption on finite Spaceship Earth have proven to be incompatible with the long-term surviving and thriving of Life here, we need to make a paradigm shift to Sustainability.

The four journal articles at the links below show part of the reason why that necessary shift cannot be done in one fell swoop.  

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https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921800919316982

["Sustainable Development and Populism"  2020

From the Abstract:  This paper contains the first empirical study of the relationship between the SDGs (17 U.N. Sustainable Development Goals) and populism.]

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959652619316191?dgcid=raven_sd_recommender_email  

["Thinking green, circular, or bio: ...researchers' perspectives on a sustainable economy..."  2019]

From the Abstract:  This study aims at highlighting combinations of sustainability concepts (circular, green, and bioeconomy) which selected researchers have considered priorities...]

https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/20/5705/htm

["Bioeconomy Transitions through the Lens of Coupled Social-Ecological Systems..."  2019

From the Abstract:  ...it remains unclear whether bioeconomy transitions in high income countries are sustainable.  In order to fill a gap in bioeconomy sustainability assessments, we apply...]

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959652617330706

["Circular economy as an essentially contested concept"  2018

From the Abstract:  ...basic assumptions concerning the values, societal structures, cultures, underlying world-views, and the paradigmatic potential of CE remain largely unexplored.]

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Although time is pressing, implementation of Sustainability will not happen only by "voting", and will require years of persistent work (which has been & is ongoing).  I mention this obvious truism because:  I've noticed in many venues both online and off that some younger activists seem to be getting extremely impatient AND depressed to one degree or another with what they perceive as a lack of progress in the shift to a sustainable path.  Take heart.  Work and progress are happening all around the world.  Yes, we (as aggregate humanity) need a giant step forward relatively quickly.  I think we're on the cusp of it, so hang in there.

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Not only my opinion.  Be Well

Free Book - "Beyond Growth" by Herman Daly

Below is a link to the online version of Beyond Growth - The Economics of Sustainable Development, by the renowned ecological economist, Herman Daly.

Some of the Figures/illustrations found in the regular book are not in this online text.
http://feineigle.com/static/books/2014/beyond_growth/Beyond%20Growth_The%20Economics%20of%20Sustainable%20Development-Herman%20E.%20Daly-(1997).pdf
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Be Well