Module 4: Having constructive conversations with those who hold different views
“The difficulty lies, not in the new ideas, but in escaping from the old ones, which ramify, for those brought up as most of us have been, into every corner of our minds.”
— John Maynard Keynes, Economist
The case for a wellbeing economy can be made from a variety of angles, as different arguments will be persuasive to different audiences. Given its broad appeal, different characteristics of a wellbeing economy can speak to different political stakeholders, such as economic localisation, building resilience, or investing in social and ecological wellbeing.
Different cases for a wellbeing economy
A moral case emphasises how a wellbeing economy approach is the right thing to do from a perspective of existing values such as human rights, being good ancestors, and principles of solidarity.
An existential case highlights the urgency of environmental breakdown and the need to act now.
A democratic case speaks to the groundswell of public opinion in favour of an economy that works for people and the planet, highlighting the outcomes of public opinion polls, deliberative dialogues, citizen assemblies, and so on.
A fiscal case stresses the high costs of 'failure demand' (see Module 2.2) and the inefficiency of a ‘growth-first-then-clean-up-and-redistribute-later’ approach.
An early investment or economic resilience case highlights how investing in the health of people, societies, and the environment now, will strengthen the resilience of societies and economies going forward.
A visionary case emphasises the opportunities for creating thriving economies that prioritise social and ecological wellbeing and showcases the initiatives that are working towards this aim to provide inspiration for what the future can look like.
Drawing on your experience and based on the political context you are working in, try to find a wellbeing economy language that can garner interest from a broad range of stakeholders. Evidence plays an important role to inform all of these cases, whether it is evidence on current crises, public opinions or alternative futures. Sharing a personal story about your own journey to a wellbeing economy - including what excites you as well as what is challenging - can also be a powerful way to engage others in constructive and open conversations, rather than only connecting through facts and figures.
What kind of case for a wellbeing economy works best for policymakers in your local context?
References
[1] Raworth, K. (2018). Doughnut Economics: Seven ways to think like a 21st century economist. Cornerstone.
[2] Mazzucato, M. (2022). Mission Economy. Penguin.
[3] DEAL, 2023. Cities & regions: let's get started. Nine pathways for local and regional governments to engage with Doughnut Economics as a tool for transformative action, https://doughnuteconomics.org/tools/cities-regions-let-s-get-started