#048 Arriving at a Wellbeing Economy
Live with Katherine Trebeck, Mike Salvaris & Carol Innes
Featuring UK-based Dr Katherine Trebeck, a central figure in the global Wellbeing Economy Alliance, and co-author of the new book ‘The Economics of Arrival: Ideas for a grown up economy’. With special guests Mike Salvaris, director of the Australian National Development Index, and global leader in the development of wellbeing measures; and Carol Innes, local Whadjak Noongar Traditional Owner and co-chair of Reconciliation WA, successfully engaging in shifting economic development frameworks locally. All in conversation with Anthony James.
Mike Salvaris, Carol Innes, Katherine Trebeck & Anthony James, after the Perth event. Pic: Lauren Pilat from WAToday.
“And this observer went on. He said that, “It’s an economic system that we are beginning to despise. But when we come to what to put in its place, we are extremely perplexed.” This was John Maynard Keynes writing in 1933. I think now, though, in 2019, with audiences like this, with work like the organisations who are hosting you here tonight, we do know what to put in its place. ”
Recorded live in conversation with a full room at The Platform in Perth, a few days after the global climate strike and as the UN Climate Action Summit began. This event launched Katherine’s book, as part of a national tour around Australia in collaboration with the New Economy Network Australia.
While everyday economics has assumed all growth is good, the richest countries already have plenty of wealth and resources — they have ‘arrived’. The Economics of Arrival urges us to move from enlarging the economy to improving it, exploring the benefits this could bring for all, and how it can be done.
Importantly in this context, Aboriginal people in this country might well ask when they’ll have the opportunity to ‘arrive’. And with all we continue to learn about the sophistication of Aboriginal culture in Australia throughout millennia, what other narratives of ‘progress’ and development are available for us to share in?
Hot on the heels of the Wellbeing Budget in New Zealand, just the latest in a raft of key developments around the world, we explore how we change systems, stories and measures, to transition to an economy geared towards shared quality of life, rather than sheer quantity of stuff.
Title slide pic: Joni Sercombe.
Get more:
Listen to the special extra to this episode, How To Make It Happen (live Q&A).
For a 25% discount on Katherine’s book, ‘The Economics of Arrival: Ideas for a grown-up economy’, enter the code ARRIVAL25 until 31 October 2019 on this website.
Hear Katherine in conversation with Anthony on episode 29.
Hear Mike with Tim Costello and Melissa Weinberg on redefining progress for episode 6.
Music:
The System, by the Public Opinion Afro Orchestra.