New Economy
Our economy needs a new direction with a focus on what really matters for people. It looks as if the economy has become a goal in itself, instead of a means to achieve human and social values. The one-sided strive for GDP growth, in line with business interests, distorts our socio-economic policies. Recalling a quote from Thomas Jefferson (1809): “The care of human life and happiness … is the only legitimate object of good government.” Quite some recent research increases our understanding of how the rules of the global and national economies need to be rewritten for a fair and sustainable future. My blogs, papers and presentations on the search for a new economic direction are thusfar mainly in Dutch.
Publications
Green transition FFWD
We humans are part of the wider living nature on earth. We cannot survive without other organisms. We need clean air, water and fertile soils. At the same time, we… Read More
Reduce social security contributions for schools, care and police
Employing people is too expensive and polluting the environment too cheap. A green tax shift is needed and is most effective when applied at the production side of the economy.… Read More
Clean energy is the crowbar in the energy transition
The shift towards energy without CO2 is technical feasible and affordable as well. Mandates for clean energy are key for the energy transition. See my slides for some main lines.… Read More
Tax shift from labour to energy
Already in the early nineties a broad Dutch coalition of unions, consumer organisations, churches and environmental NGO’s, advocated for a tax shift from labour to energy use. In 1996 the… Read More
Let’s talk about power
Power plays an important role in our lives and society. However, we mostly pretend that our organizations and relationships are governed by common sense and democracy. But hierarchical position often… Read More
Oil Security Europe
Europe imports 88% of the oil it uses, mainly from rather unstable regions. This paper gives an overview of the security and economic risks associated with our oil dependency. Large… Read More