Eco-nomics for an ecological civilisation

Published 2024 – Our modern lives are largely determined by economic policies shaped by prevailing economic theory. Yet current economic theory serves us well only if our societal purpose is to exploit people and Earth to make money for the already rich. This economics is better named ego-nomics, as its focus on personal financial return is more ego (from the Latin “I”) than eco (from the Greek “oikos” meaning household). In our current interdependent world, our household is Earth and all its living beings.

This publication by David Korten introduces a new economic model, “eco-nomics,” essential for fostering a life-centric civilisation. This model aims to replace the outdated ‘ego-nomics,’ which prioritises personal gain over our collective future. Korten emphasises the urgency of adopting eco-nomics to prevent irreversible damage to Earth and its inhabitants by the decade’s end. Explore how shifting our economic paradigm can preserve not just human life but all life on Earth. 

Author: David Korten

Download Publication

Other Publications

A History of the Club of Rome

A History of the Club of Rome

26 February 2026 - This publication revisits the history of the Club of Rome from its founding in 1968 to the present day. Drawing on archival research and interviews with long-standing members, it traces how the organisation evolved through moments of global...

The End of Population Growth

The End of Population Growth

09 February 2026 - The era of population growth is ending - and societies are unprepared, argues Ugo Bardi in this report to the Club of Rome. In The End of Population Growth, systems scientist and author Ugo Bardi argues that population decline is likely to begin...

Rewiring finance for transformative innovation

Rewiring finance for transformative innovation

04 December 2025 - This report, developed with the EIB Institute, sets out how Europe can reconfigure finance to support transformative innovation – the kind needed to respond to interconnected ecological, social and economic crises. It argues that today’s financial...

Club of Rome Logo