Author Archives: Laurie

The Times They Are A-Changing? Exploring the potential shift away from the neoliberal political-economic paradigm (Forum for a New Economy)

5th August 2019 Modern economic history can be roughly split into different eras in which certain sets of ideas dominate politics and policy-making. This paper – co-authored with Laurie Macfarlane and Michael Jacobs – seeks to understand if a shift in the ‘political- economic paradigm’ is currently under way by inspecting the state of debatesContinue reading “The Times They Are A-Changing? Exploring the potential shift away from the neoliberal political-economic paradigm (Forum for a New Economy)”

Facing the crisis: Rethinking economics for the age of environmental breakdown (IPPR)

1st August 2019 The current economic model in countries around the world drives environmental breakdown, and many of its underpinning assumptions, policies and narratives act as barriers to change. A new model is needed to rapidly create societies that are more sustainable, just and prepared: bringing human activity to within environmentally sustainable limits while narrowingContinue reading “Facing the crisis: Rethinking economics for the age of environmental breakdown (IPPR)”

Our biggest political crisis isn’t Boris Johnson: it’s a warming planet

There was a time when it seemed more likely that hell would freeze over than Boris Johnson would become prime minister. But as the furore over his new government transfixes Westminster, a far greater political crisis rages on. The planet is warming – so much so that London is forecast to reach 39C today. Further north,Continue reading “Our biggest political crisis isn’t Boris Johnson: it’s a warming planet”

Could working less save the planet?

There’s a growing consensus that many of the problems fuelling climate change should be tackled simultaneously, improving people’s lives while rapidly reducing environmental impact. Yet increasing wellbeing often leads to more environmental destruction; more food, for example, results in the unsustainable use of soil, while access to high quality healthcare means deploying more diesel ambulances. AContinue reading “Could working less save the planet?”