One of the Schumacher Center’s most trusted friends passed away on Solstice Eve. A historian, a journalist, an activist, a prolific writer, a quiet but authentic visionary, David Boyle was ever the champion of small communities and local economies.
David Boyle was the author of books on social change, politics, and the future. He was editor of publications including Town & Country Planning, Community Network, New Economics, Liberal Democrat News and Radical Economics. He was co-director of the think tank New Weather Institute, policy director of Radix, an advisory council member of the Schumacher Center for New Economics, and a fellow at the New Economics Foundation.
David had been at the heart of the effort to develop co-production and introduce time banks to Britain as a critical element of public service reform. He was the government’s independent reviewer on Barriers to Public Service Choice (2012-13). He stood for Parliament, and was for twelve years a member of the federal policy committee of the Liberal Democrats.
In 2023, the Schumacher Center commissioned David to author a refreshed study guide to mark the 50th anniversary of the publication of Small is Beautiful. He was the person we knew to be most capable and faithful to this bold undertaking.
At the 2004 conference Local Currencies in the Twenty-First Century, convened by the Schumacher Center at Bard College, David announced the birth of his first son, Robin, from the plenary stage. His remarks touched the hearts of all in the room — a father’s hope that we could work together to create a future world worthy of all our sons and daughters.
David Boyle died at his home in England from complications linked to Parkinson’s disease. Lindsay Mackie and Andrew Simms honored David with this obituary in the Guardian.
A few of David’s writings to hear his own powerful voice:
- Small is Beautiful Study Guide
- “The Fantasy of Gold and the Survival of Life,” from the Schumacher Center’s 2004 conference Local Currencies in the Twenty-First Century
- David Boyle’s website
- Time Banks: A Radical Manifesto for the U.K.
- Economics – A Crash Course, written by David Boyle and Andrew Simms
He will be greatly missed.
Many good wishes,
Susan Witt, Executive Director