Discussion Paper

Biomass is a Common

In this excerpt from his book Towards a Convivial Economy, Patrick Noble critiques the widespread assumption that carbon sequestration is a virtue: "the central consideration for atmospheric carbon dioxide projections is not the mass of carbon. It is the mass of life."

Limits to Incentives

Means of exchange are never neutral as orthodox economists assume. Intentional Currencies respond by being explicit about the values they seek to promote and the outcomes they seek to achieve. An analysis of the use of incentives in currency design helps to guide that design. It also indicates strategies to utilise incentives to motivate intentional communities, NGOs and other volunteer-based organisations. By Graham Barnes.

The Climate Crisis and Economic Policy Choices

Brian Davey, in Credo, argues that carbon emissions will never fall at a sufficient rate in a growth economy. Unfortunately, the EU operates a climate policy framework, the EU Emissions Trading System, that was designed by BP and it doesn’t work. Policies that might work were the political will there are described. However, the fossil fuel industry still has a stranglehold on policy.

Living in Unpredictable Times

Brian Davey argues that in many aspects of life one can turn a story upside down or reverse cause and effect and it will still be plausible. Moreover, things that don't fit into the prevailing narrative are often downplayed or ignored. The coming bankruptcy of the energy sector is a crisis that mainstream economists will not be able to understand nor to solve. The faith that there will always be a techno fix and that continued growth is the normal state of affairs is likely to remain pervasive for a longest time - despite growing chaos.