A healthy economy should be designed to thrive, not grow | Kate Raworth

What would a sustainable, universally beneficial economy look like? "Like a doughnut," says Oxford economist Kate Raworth. In a stellar, eye-opening talk, she explains how we can move countries out of the hole -- where people are falling short on life's essentials -- and create regenerative, distributive economies that work within the planet's ecological limits.

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[patriotsongs]

I've always thought there was something drastically wrong with the idea that an economy must get bigger and bigger in order to be sustainable. It gives me a mental picture of a huge maw, consuming everything in its path. How wonderful to find someone who articulates so well what a sustainable, thriving economy would look like, and how wonderful to see from the comments that there are many, many out there who agree.

[daniel]

"We need a dashboard of indicators" -- health, wellness, social connectedness, ecological regeneration, fluid exchanges of services and good, etc. So great to hear this. So much needed.

[ExplorewithNana]

I am surprised to see this video was noticed by less than half a million viewers ONLY. Such an essential topic was discussed. I am grateful to Ms. Kate Raworth for bringing it up. Japan's GDP has not been growing much for 3 decades, but it doesn't seem that Japanese are living worse now. They got used to the deflation and learnt to cope with it. This is what encouraged me to dig into exploring the "no growth economy" and I believe it will become a trend soon for majority of the world. We've got to stop producing more and more, but rather focus on solely meeting our needs and getting more inspiration and strength from our surroundings, from the nature, from chatting with friends. I would love to see such lifestyle being commonly followed. Thank you!

[sterlingbarlow]

Thank you Kate Raworth. I gave up on economics decades ago when I discovered the limits and fallacies of "eternal" growth. I gave up on finding an economist who could actually think and incorporate reality into that thought. You have just changed my mind. This TED talk is the best thing I have heard/watched in 2022. I look forward to seeing/hearing more of you.
🥰😁🤗

[waynesloane]

This really is exceptionally well thought-out and delivered; and couldn't be more important.

[trishhansen]

This is genius. Thank you Kate Raworth. How might we better honour the importance of arts, creative expression and culture in our definition of human flourishing?

[jaahmal]

The single most important Ted Talk ever made. Thanks Kate Raworth for rejecting status-quo and actually looking in the eyes the reality of the 21st century's main challenges !

[EnnDeeKay]

Fantastically framed, articulated and presented. Thank you!

[Cyhwang]

I would like to major in economics, especially in environmental economics, which deals with climate change and the distribution of limited resources. This TED talk suggests a sustainable economic boundary, in which everyone can thrive.

[woofer]

You can see all the rich people being uncomfortable in the crowd.

[christianpor]

I think that the “Doughnut-Economy" concept of Kate Raworth offers a great new way of thinking. It arises from the idea that “we need economies that make us thrive whether or not they grow”. Therefore, it is necessary to overthink the importance of GDP as a welfare-indicator. Critics on the “five stages of growth” by W.W. Rostow are fundamental for rethinking economics, because Rostow’s book explains how the goal of mass consumption can be accomplished by capitalism. The biggest problem is that there is no end to this dynamic. Unfortunately, it seems like countries are nowadays politically, financially and socially dependent on never-ending growth. The big problem is that this understanding of economics threatens the environment in a very drastic way.
For this reason, Kate Raworth invented the “Doughnot-Economy”, which conceptualises how economies can thrive without growth and without destroying the environment. For me, the central point of this concept, and I think also the biggest challenge of our generation is to stay within the planetary boundaries. This means that people must move between the fundament and the ceiling in all parts of life like housing, water, energy, food, education, income & work, social equity and many more. I really like Raworth's statement which says that the economists of the last century did not know the picture of planetary boundaries and for that reason their theories cannot be the right ones. We cannot answer to pollution with the “all-solving” growth because it would make the problem much worse. I also like her idea of regenerating biological materials and restoring technical materials. Technological progress and especially concentration on sustainable developments provide a great opportunity for designing a green future.
Altogether, I think that the concept of Kate Raworth could really transform our way of living and save our planet. But what I am uncertain about is if we all are ready for change. During the last years, a movement within societies happened, many people are concerned about the environment and a lot is ready to change something. But I think the problem is that society’s pressure on politicians and companies is still not heavy enough. As long as the majority of people just accepts the system and the economy as it is, there won’t be change in the short term. I’m afraid that we – even though it would be the cure – will not implement the Doughnut-Economy (for now).

[dhanashrigaidhani]

It was the finest and most influential speech of my life.
You have an extraordinary way to explain things along with you pleasent personality!
You gave me a whole new prospective towards growth and economy.
Your words made me think deeply about the present condition of earth.
Thankyou so much maam🌻.

[ThorgeirSkulason]

Fantastic talk! Well spoken, passionate presentation and easy to listen to. 10/10 !

[MovieRiotHD]

As a Dutchman: Let's all start cycling!

[LoveAndPeaceOccurs]

Thank You Kate Raworth for this important talk. You are spot on about how conditioned many of us have become to place the focus on continued growth and how that has and is effecting us ... it even is one component of why poor people have such a hard time ... so many products are built to only last a brief time so they can be made and sold again ... and those made the cheapest are the ones the poor end up buying so over and over poor people have to buy clothing and shoes and toasters .... and light bulbs ... so the economy can grow. Love & Peace to All

[ariannapalmieri]

This is definitely one of the best talks that I have ever heard!!!

[MichaelBerthelsen]

I have always thought that growth as a goal was asinine, since you'd be constantly striving, rather than be satisfied with and enjoy how well we are at the current point in time. We're no longer dependent solely on manufacturing and farming, but heavily on services, and you don't need growth, you need to sustain and improve what you already have.

[geistreiches]

growth will happen but not in material products, it will happen spiritually, books, art, information and insights.. it's already happening, people are scaling back on material things.. In knowledge growth can be infinite and without big impacts on the environment

[MrJohnd]

This is an exhilarating talk almost poetry; 'so often thought of but never so well expressed'! Congratulations for such a brilliant speech.

[andresgalia]

I could not agree more with what Kate Raworth says. A few years ago I started to realize that we live in a system in which the good of the Economy is the first priority instead of the needs of mankind. In the name of the good of the Economy we keep wasting our resources by producng goods that are not essential to our subsistence so we can buy them with money that we do not have. To buy these goods we ask for credits that we end up paying at rates that are usurious. So who benefits with the status quo? Who ends up benefiting from this state of affairs? The owners of the means of production and the financial capital.