For the past three decades, neoclassical doctrine has dominated economic theory and policy. The balance of power has shifted to protect private interests, resulting in unprecedented damage to the environment and society, with no solution in sight as more austerity and less government continues to be posited as the answer to the oncoming waves of crisis. It doesn't have to be this way. Featuring a remarkable roster of internationally renowned critical thinkers, Co-operatives in a Post-Growth Era presents a feasible alternative for a more environmentally sustainable and equitable economic system - specifically, the co-operative business model. With more than 100 million people working in co-operatives and more than a billion members around the world, the time has never been better for co-operatives everywhere to recognise their potential to change the economic landscape.
Introduction - Tom Webb and Sonja Novkovic Part I: What is the new economy and why do we need it 1. The world on a collision course and the need for a new economy - Manfred Max-Neef. 2. The new economy - Neva Goodwin. 3. The world we need - Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett. 4. Are prosperity and sustainability compatible? - William Rees 5. Living well: Explorations into the end of growth - Peter Victor 6. Complexity: Shock, innovation, and resilience - Thomas Homer-Dixon 7. Finance for the Anthropocene - John Fullerton. Part II: Cooperatives and the new economy 8. Choices, incentives and co-operative organization - Stefano Zamagni 9. Are cooperatives a viable business form? Lessons from behavioural economics - Morris Altman 10. The cooperative enterprise: A valid alternative for a more balanced society - Vera Negri Zamagni 11. Employee Ownership and Health: an initial study - David Erdal 12. Cooperatives in a Global Economy: Key Economic Issues, Recent Trends, and Potential for Development - Stephen C Smith and Jonathan Rothbaum 13. A Role for Cooperatives in Managing and Governing Common Pool Resources and Common Property Systems - Barbara Allen 14. Is the debt trap avoidable? - Claudia Sanchez Bajo. Conclusion - Sonja Novkovic and Tom Webb
