Essential Resources
Listed below you will find a number of resources that inform us on the details around non-extractive businesses and services and the planetary boundaries.
Essential Watching
French economist Thomas Piketty caused a sensation in early 2014 with his book on a simple, brutal formula explaining economic inequality: r > g (meaning that return on capital is generally higher than economic growth). Here, he talks through the massive data set that led him to conclude: Economic inequality is not new, but it is getting worse, with radical possible impacts.
TED Talk given by Melanie Rieback on the non-extractive business model. Using their own company as an example, Melanie touches upon the necessity of a non-extractive business, its business foundation, and benefits.
This course given by Melanie Rieback at the University of Amsterdam gives you insight into the limitations and problems of our current economic models and financial extraction. In addition, it will provide you with insight into viable alternative economic models, and will provide you with practical skills for applying post-growth principles in entrepreneurship.
A Ted Talk given by Kate Raworth wherein she discusses her revisioned economic system. The "Doughnut Economics" system provides society with all its needs while simultaneously positioning us within the planetary boundaries.
Essential Reading
In this book Jason Hickel illustrates how the current system of capital extraction is causing ecological breakdown and shows how to shape our economy in a way that brings us back into balance with our environment and create a thriving society for all.
Kate Raworth shows the critical mistakes of the current Capitalist economic system which lead to environmental degradation and inequality, and she proposes a viable alternative system. Her re-envisioned system meets all of society's needs while simultaneously positioning ourselves within the planetary boundaries.
Tim Jackson investigates whether GDP growth leads to better education, financial, and prosperity for all, and whether economic growth forever is possible. He argues that if we want to protect our environment and natural resources we have to rely on an economy that is not preoccupied with continued growth.
This paper demonstrates the inequality in CO2 emissions and how these emissions are tied to consumption patterns and capital investments. In addition, the analysis shows that the vast majority of annual CO2 emissions (86%) come from the 10 percent wealthiest people on earth.