Deep Economy
Encyclopedia
Deep Economy: The Wealth of Communities and the Durable Future is a non-fiction work by environmentalist
Bill McKibben
published in 2007 in the field of ecological economics
. It promotes sustainable economy through close communities, with regions generating their own food, energy, culture and entertainment. In an interview with Salon.com
, McKibben defined a "deep economy" as one that "cares less about quantity than about quality; that takes as its goal the production of human satisfaction as much as surplus material; that is focused on the idea that it might endure and considers durability at least as important as increases in size." The book has been generally well-received, though some critics have questioned his proposed solutions.
and the Industrial Revolution
which rapidly altered expectations of economic growth. According to him, the current political assumption ignores both the problems of resource depletion and inequity, which leads to human unhappiness. Instead, McKibben suggests that the focus should be on "deep economy", which includes a consideration of human satisfaction, rather than constant growth.
As an example of the problem with current philosophy, McKibben focuses extensively on global, industrial agriculture
, which he argues has endangered localized farming communities, damaged the environment, increased the risk of terrorist sabotage of a central food supply, increased food-borne illnesses, led to more mistreatment of farmworker
s, and sped the depletion of water and oil. The solution to these problems, he suggests, is community-centered farming as currently practiced in Cuba, with similar projects in New England and Detroit. He also examines the Western world's attitude towards economic inequity. The mega-rich are praised and admired, a symptom of the "hyper-individualization" that McKibben regards as a social failure, ecologically, politically and morally. Human beings are more psychologically healthy, not to mention happy, when part of a community, and accordingly community-based economies, wherein goods are locally produced and consumed, foster neighborliness and happiness.
To the end of fostering close communities, McKibben offers several suggestions, ranging from encouraging the use of public transportation to offering a close living environment where multiple residents share living spaces in interconnected condominiums, from developing sustaining alternate energy sources to developing and utilizing a local currency
(such as BerkShares
) in addition to a national one.
By contrast to such economists and commentators as Deirdre McCloskey
, Thomas Friedman
and Jeffrey Sachs
, McKibben does not promote globalization
in the developing world, which he views as ineffective means of raising standard of living and unsustainable given limited global resources.
suggests that "the book is given to one-sidedness and oversimplification", with answers that may not be workable, but adds that it isn't gloomy or "tedious...: it has barely a dull sentence" as McKibben "makes his case with flair and a wealth of fascinating detail...." The New York Times notes that the book "suffused with a certain Vermontlichkeit", offers the occasional "ghastly idea", but says, "It would be unwise to dismiss McKibben’s ideas as pipe dreams or Luddism
. He makes his case on anecdotal, environmental, moral and, as it were, aesthetic grounds."
Environmentalist
An environmentalist broadly supports the goals of the environmental movement, "a political and ethical movement that seeks to improve and protect the quality of the natural environment through changes to environmentally harmful human activities"...
Bill McKibben
Bill McKibben
William Ernest "Bill" McKibben is an American environmentalist, author, and journalist who has written extensively on the impact of global warming. He is the Schumann Distinguished Scholar at Middlebury College...
published in 2007 in the field of ecological economics
Ecological economics
Image:Sustainable development.svg|right|The three pillars of sustainability. Clickable.|275px|thumbpoly 138 194 148 219 164 240 182 257 219 277 263 291 261 311 264 331 272 351 283 366 300 383 316 394 287 408 261 417 224 424 182 426 154 423 119 415 87 403 58 385 40 368 24 347 17 328 13 309 16 286 26...
. It promotes sustainable economy through close communities, with regions generating their own food, energy, culture and entertainment. In an interview with Salon.com
Salon.com
Salon.com, part of Salon Media Group , often just called Salon, is an online liberal magazine, with content updated each weekday. Salon was founded by David Talbot and launched on November 20, 1995. It was the internet's first online-only commercial publication. The magazine focuses on U.S...
, McKibben defined a "deep economy" as one that "cares less about quantity than about quality; that takes as its goal the production of human satisfaction as much as surplus material; that is focused on the idea that it might endure and considers durability at least as important as increases in size." The book has been generally well-received, though some critics have questioned his proposed solutions.
Overview
McKibben questions whether the long-standing presumption that "more" equals "better" in economic growth is a valid one, suggesting that unfettered growth is not a realistic, sustainable goal. According to McKibben, this mindset resulted from the 1712 invention of the steam engineSteam engine
A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid.Steam engines are external combustion engines, where the working fluid is separate from the combustion products. Non-combustion heat sources such as solar power, nuclear power or geothermal energy may be...
and the Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
which rapidly altered expectations of economic growth. According to him, the current political assumption ignores both the problems of resource depletion and inequity, which leads to human unhappiness. Instead, McKibben suggests that the focus should be on "deep economy", which includes a consideration of human satisfaction, rather than constant growth.
As an example of the problem with current philosophy, McKibben focuses extensively on global, industrial agriculture
Industrial agriculture
Industrial farming is a form of modern farming that refers to the industrialized production of livestock, poultry, fish, and crops. The methods of industrial agriculture are technoscientific, economic, and political...
, which he argues has endangered localized farming communities, damaged the environment, increased the risk of terrorist sabotage of a central food supply, increased food-borne illnesses, led to more mistreatment of farmworker
Farmworker
A farmworker is a person hired to work in the agricultural industry. This includes work on farms of all sizes, from small, family-run businesses to large industrial agriculture operations...
s, and sped the depletion of water and oil. The solution to these problems, he suggests, is community-centered farming as currently practiced in Cuba, with similar projects in New England and Detroit. He also examines the Western world's attitude towards economic inequity. The mega-rich are praised and admired, a symptom of the "hyper-individualization" that McKibben regards as a social failure, ecologically, politically and morally. Human beings are more psychologically healthy, not to mention happy, when part of a community, and accordingly community-based economies, wherein goods are locally produced and consumed, foster neighborliness and happiness.
To the end of fostering close communities, McKibben offers several suggestions, ranging from encouraging the use of public transportation to offering a close living environment where multiple residents share living spaces in interconnected condominiums, from developing sustaining alternate energy sources to developing and utilizing a local currency
Local currency
In economics, a local currency, in its common usage, is a currency not backed by a national government , and intended to trade only in a small area. As a tool of fiscal localism, local moneys can raise awareness of the state of the local economy, especially among those who may be unfamiliar or...
(such as BerkShares
BerkShares
BerkShares is a local currency that circulates in The Berkshires region of Massachusetts. It was launched September 29, 2006 by BerkShares Inc., with research and development assistance from the New Economics Institute. The BerkShares website lists over 370 businesses in Berkshire County that...
) in addition to a national one.
By contrast to such economists and commentators as Deirdre McCloskey
Deirdre McCloskey
Deirdre N. McCloskey is an American economics professor. Her job title at the University of Illinois at Chicago is Distinguished Professor of Economics, History, English, and Communication...
, Thomas Friedman
Thomas Friedman
Thomas Lauren Friedman is an American journalist, columnist and author. He writes a twice-weekly column for The New York Times. He has written extensively on foreign affairs including global trade, the Middle East, and environmental issues and has won the Pulitzer Prize three times.-Personal...
and Jeffrey Sachs
Jeffrey Sachs
Jeffrey David Sachs is an American economist and Director of The Earth Institute at Columbia University. One of the youngest economics professors in the history of Harvard University, Sachs became known for his role as an adviser to Eastern European and developing country governments in the...
, McKibben does not promote globalization
Globalization
Globalization refers to the increasingly global relationships of culture, people and economic activity. Most often, it refers to economics: the global distribution of the production of goods and services, through reduction of barriers to international trade such as tariffs, export fees, and import...
in the developing world, which he views as ineffective means of raising standard of living and unsustainable given limited global resources.
Critical reception
The book has been generally well-received, with critics praising the presentation though sometimes questioning his solutions. Preceding their interview with the author, Salon.com describes his future as "credible" and his account of the problems the world faces and the path to the current crisis "compelling." BloombergBloomberg L.P.
Bloomberg L.P. is an American privately held financial software, media, and data company. Bloomberg makes up one third of the $16 billion global financial data market with estimated revenue of $6.9 billion. Bloomberg L.P...
suggests that "the book is given to one-sidedness and oversimplification", with answers that may not be workable, but adds that it isn't gloomy or "tedious...: it has barely a dull sentence" as McKibben "makes his case with flair and a wealth of fascinating detail...." The New York Times notes that the book "suffused with a certain Vermontlichkeit", offers the occasional "ghastly idea", but says, "It would be unwise to dismiss McKibben’s ideas as pipe dreams or Luddism
Luddite
The Luddites were a social movement of 19th-century English textile artisans who protested – often by destroying mechanised looms – against the changes produced by the Industrial Revolution, which they felt were leaving them without work and changing their way of life...
. He makes his case on anecdotal, environmental, moral and, as it were, aesthetic grounds."
External links
- "Diving into Deep Economy", OneBookUTA, University of Texas at ArlingtonUniversity of Texas at ArlingtonThe University of Texas at Arlington is a public research university located in Arlington, Texas, United States. The campus is situated southwest of downtown Arlington, and is located in the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. The university was founded in 1895 and served primarily a military...
. - Bill McKibben: "Deep Economy", Interview. KQED-FMKQED-FMKQED-FM is an NPR-member radio station owned by Northern California Public Broadcasting in San Francisco, California.KQED-FM was founded by James Day in 1969 as the radio arm of KQED Television. The founding manager was Bernard Mayes who later went on to be Executive Vice-President of KQED TV and...
.