Growth, Fairness and the Way We Live Now
WATERPERRY RETREAT PROGRAMME: Growth, Fairness and the Way We Live Now
An interactive workshop and dialogue
“The book of economics lies open before us. Its language is simple and its message is clear.
We may read it, not in any library but in our daily lives.” Leon MacLaren
YOU CAN HELP
Everyone knows that economic growth is the accepted measure of economic success. Everyone also knows that unlimited economic growth is exhausting the planet we live on.
It is easy to say that the way we live now is characterised by consumerism, concern about living standards, helpless dismay about climate change and ecological harm, and obsession with economic growth. But what do you think? What is your experience and observation? Is all this growth really necessary, or as harmful as it sometimes appears? How is it measured and what are its consequences? Here is a chance to be well informed about the issues around economic growth and how just and equitable solutions can be found to today’s economic challenges. The draft programme allows for short presentations, discussion and feedback as well as keynote contributions. Economics is philosophy in action. Come and take part.
Course leader, Ian Mason is a barrister and former head of economics in the School. He has contributed to the United Nations dialogue on Harmony with Nature and written and spoken extensively about Economics with Justice, Wild Law and Earth Jurisprudence.
Listen to Ian Mason speaking about Growth and De-growth.
Additional facilitators: Chris Wood, Chris Todhunter, Richard Glover, Anthony Jones.
Confirmed guest contributor: Seb Munden former CEO of Unilever UK & Ireland, and now Chair of WRAP, the Waste and Resources Action Programme.
Watch Seb on the circular economy.
You can register your interest and be kept up to date with additions to the programme. Complete the form to stay updated.
ECONOMICS RETREAT OCT-NOV 2023
Growth, Fairness and the Way We Live Now
Interactive workshop and dialogue
Process and draft Programme
Format would depend on numbers but could include:
- Keynote talks / lectures
- Short talks with discussion
- Study sessions in breakout groups.
- Any combination of these.
- Waterperry has offered a conducted visit to the vegetable garden.
The aim is for participants to end up feeling better informed and having ‘thought through’ the whole question of economic growth and its implications and possibilities.
The emphasis will be on the words ‘interactive’ and ‘dialogue’ based on ‘participate, learn, contribute’.
Short talks: There will be short, prepared introductions to most of the sessions with opportunities for questions and contributions from participants with a view to provoking thought and deepening understanding of the subjects.
Engagement: The aim is to engage participants and hear from them as much as possible.
Outline programme: [As at 9 October 2023]
MONDAY
8.00 pm Reception and meeting up.
8.45 pm Introduction and Keynote 1 - Ian Mason (Retreat Leader) Economic Growth and Economics-with-Justice.
TUESDAY
Morning programme to include voluntary quiet time for meditation or quiet pursuit followed by preparation and setting up for breakfast at 7.15.
8.30- Session 1(a) – GDP The Basics (Introductory) Ian Mason: A brief summary of the essentials – what GDP is, how it is measured. Its strengths and deficiencies.
9.15- Session 1(b) – Alternative measures Chris Wood: A review of alternatives to GDP and indices that reflect qualitative inputs. Received wisdom is 'what gets measured gets managed'; influence on public and private policy. What about well- being and happiness, of us, the environment? The Dasgupta Review and the economic benefits of natural capital, how might that influence how we approach the subject.
10.00 Break
10.30-Session 2(a) – Drivers of Growth Chris Todhunter: - You don’t want Growth to stop, do you? We will explore the irresistible desires which fuel not only the way you (we) live now but also the needs of the 6 Billion impoverished people of the World.
11.15-Session 2(b) – Productive / Extractive Economy Richard Glover – Unravelling these two strands of economic thinking to reveal their distinct effects on the need for growth, and some possibilities for choosing more wisely.
12.00 Lunch Break (to include setting up and clearing as necessary)
1.45 Session 3 – Keynote 2 – Seb Munden [Seb Munden is the former chief executive of Unilever UK & Ireland Ltd, and now the Chair of WRAP, the Waste and Resources Action Programme, an NGO working across the world to change the way things are made used and disposed of in the food, textiles, and packaging systems. Their goal is to eliminate pollution, waste, and greenhouse gas emissions, and scale up the Circular Economy].
Break
3.30 - Session 4(a) – Distribution of Growth Ian Mason: Who is benefitting from all this growth Developed and developing world; public and private sectors; rising tide in theory and practice.
4.10 - Session 4(b) – Limits to Growth
Chris Todhunter: Exploring the aftermath of the 1972 publication by the Club of Rome of the ‘Limits to Growth’ study. What has happened since then and what does that mean?
4.45 Break (some voluntary assistance will be needed for supper preparations)
6.00 Quiet time
6.35 Session 5 – Feedback and Review
7.15 Setting up and supper at 7.30.
8.30 Session 6 TBA
WEDNESDAY
Morning programme to include voluntary quiet time for meditation or quiet pursuit followed by preparation and setting up for breakfast at 7.15.
8.30 - Session 7(a) – Green Growth Chris Wood: What is it and is it sustainable? The role of ESG and Greenwashing. Some initiatives and the politics of the Overton Window.
9.00 – Session 7(b) – De-Growth Richard Glover: Exploring aspects of economic activity that need to be scaled back, and implications for ordinary lives. Is this winding the clock back or winding it to allow us to go forward?
09.30 – Session 7(c) – Post growth: Chris Todhunter: What are some of the possible scenarios as we face the predicament of climate change and market forces. Collapse or business as usual?
Break
10.30- Session 8(a) – Bhutan Anthony Jones: Gross national happiness – how it works in practice.
11.15 – Session 8(b) - India Chris Todhunter: Focusing on the collision between ‘Development’ and the cultural legacy of the former Andra Pradesh and Telangana, we will look at the two slogans which have summarised two approaches: ‘Land for the tiller’ and ‘Land for Development’
11.45 – Session 8(c) – Africa Ian Mason – Where and why economic growth is needed.
12.00 Lunch Break (to include setting up and clearing as necessary)
1.45 Session 9 – A visit to the Waterperry Vegetable Garden with a member of staff is planned
2.45 Break
3.15 - Session 10 – Pause for thought.
4.45 Break
6.00 Quiet time
6.30 Session 5 – Feedback and Review
7.15 Setting up and supper at 7.30.
8.30 – Session 6 TBA
THURSDAY
Leave House as good or better than we find it.
Depart by 9.00 am.