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
European Union expands national autonomy
Due to globalization and digitalization, countries have lost power relative to international markets and companies. The European Union provides a necessary countervailing power to this. This leads to the apparent… Read More
Beyond GDP
Why is GDP widely used as indicator, knowing its limitations, while better indicators for social progress are available? The limits of GDP as indicator for well-being in a society are… Read More
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
Tax shift from labour to energy
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.
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
The Power of Images
In 2011 I presented my preliminary insights into the gap between facts and images during an OECD seminar. My case was the development of transport policy, as I have been… Read More