05 December 2024 – Can you share the key experiences and influences that shaped your journey as a political economist and advocate for economic system change?
There were a couple of significant experiences that influenced my journey. During my early university years, I wanted to do community development. I spent time working at a hospital in a village in Cameroon, where I made friends and saw life in a different context. After returning to Melbourne, I learned that the village had been devastated by a flood. My initial impulse was to go back to help, but a lecturer in human rights, an East Timorese activist, urged me to reconsider. She said that as someone with the privilege to study, I should use it to understand why villages like the one I had worked in, were so vulnerable.
This led me to question issues of power, privilege and inequality. Later, I did research on mining companies and how Aboriginal communities could shape their behaviour in surprising ways, given the differences in financial wealth. I moved to Glasgow, Scotland, a city with deep industrial roots and severe health inequalities and I observed how the economy influenced people’s lives, with some dying as young as 54 yrs. During my time working with Oxfam, I realised that truly caring about global justice, demands an examination of how wealthier countries consume more than their ecological fair share, leaving little room for lower income countries to improve their basic living standards. The accumulation of these experiences drove me to ask fundamental questions about economic systems, their purpose, who they serve, and who makes the decisions that shape them.
How do you define a wellbeing economy, and what are its core principles? How does it differ from traditional economic models?
A wellbeing economy is an economic system that meets the needs of both people and the planet. It focuses on delivering quality of life for everyone, now and in the future, and for all species. Building a wellbeing economy requires changes in everything from food production to energy systems and tax structures and the design of businesses. It’s like a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle: no one piece is sufficient on its own, but they can add up to the fundamental change needed.
To frame this puzzle, I use the “four P’s.” First, there is ‘Purpose’: defining what the economy is for. It questions whether economic growth should be about increasing GDP or improving people’s lives. The second is ‘Prevention’: recognising that much government effort currently responds to damage rather than preventing it. For example, investing in circular economy systems would reduce the need for beach cleanups. Third is ‘Pre–distribution’: designing the market aspect of the economy to distribute resources better, before taxes and welfare help via redistibution. Concepts like worker owned cooperatives, minimum wages, and community wealth building help with this. Lastly, ‘People powered’: emphasises involving people and communities in economic decisions that impact them. It is about ensuring economic change is just and led by people most affected, rather than imposed top down. Think of citizens assemblies, participatory budgeting, community-led transition plans and economic democracy in firms..
What motivated you to co-found the Wellbeing Economy Alliance (WEAll), and what do you consider its most significant achievements so far?
WEAll was founded with contributions from a diverse group of individuals who had been working on economic change somewhat separately. These people felt that despite their impactful work, the lack of connection between their efforts was allowing business-as-usual practices to continue. WEAll was created to connect these efforts and highlight them, providing support, visibility, and strength to each initiative. In a way it is a bit like rolling out “red carpet” for members of the economic change movement to showcase their work and push for policy change: creating space and connections, and hopefully some fun in doing so!
One of the alliance’s achievements is building a broad network where people feel they’ve “found their home”, creating a supportive environment where members can recharge and continue their system-changing work. Another significant accomplishment is the establishment of local hubs from Scotland to South Africa, creating conversations in communities. WEAll also helped initiate the Wellbeing Economy Governments Partnership (WEGo) with Scotland, New Zealand, Finland, Iceland, and Wales, which promotes a different view of development and inspires other governments.
Can you elaborate on the role and impact of the group of Wellbeing Economy Governments (WEGo)? How do you see it evolving in the coming years?
WEGo was envisioned as an alternative to groups like the G7, celebrating governments that prioritise wellbeing over GDP. It hasn’t fully replaced the G7 model, but it has created a space for senior policy leaders who recognise the need to place wellbeing at the heart of economic policy. Through policy labs, members of WEGo share experiences, support each other, and exchange ideas to navigate challenges.
WEGo’s impact has been in providing an example for other governments. Even Australia has shown interest in joining as observer. WEGo represents a new model of international relations where countries work together to solve shared challenges.
How does your work with The Club of Rome align with your advocacy for a wellbeing economy? Why did you join the Club of Rome as a member, and what challenges do you believe the organisation should address in the coming years?
I have long admired the Club of Rome, seeing its members as my intellectual heroes at the forefront of promoting the evidence and discussions needed for economic change. The Club of Rome’s Earth4All initiative aligns naturally with the wellbeing economy I advocate for, as it promotes similar goals and solutions. The organisation provides fellowship, companionship, and support, making me feel part of a team working on the same task.
Despite our movement’s solid evidence base, those opposed to change seem to be gaining ground. In the coming years, our goal should be to expand the conversation to include everyday workers—people who will directly benefit from a more secure, inclusive, and fair economic system and who are most harmed by the current system.
What is your vision for the future of global economic systems, and what are the most important changes we need to make to create a sustainable and fair world economy?
The vision is for an economy that is not a goal in itself, but is designed to serve people and the planet. Achieving this vision requires rethinking our measures of progress, tax systems, the nature of jobs, and even our definitions of success, which today often revolve around consumption. It will require experimentation, collaboration, and embracing diverse business models that focus on purpose over profit. Ultimately, the future economy should prioritise people and the planet above profit.
