Search Results for Small Is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered
“Should We Switch To Small Technology?”
Reverend Vetter: Welcome to another in our series of Cambridge Forum programs on ethical issues in America, entitled “Should We?” Tonight we ask: “Should We Switch to Small Technology?” The speakers will be: Robert Swann, Director of the International Independence Institute; Richard Eckaus, Professor of Economics at MIT; Langdon Winner, Assistant Professor of Political … Continued
“Small Is Beautiful” Quotes
What seemed so evident to early readers of “Small is Beautiful” still seems painfully opaque to the world today. When the book was first published, many thought that change would come about through insight, logic, compassion, and reason. Increasingly, it seems that change will come about after we have exhausted every other theory of greed … Continued
How Small Became Beautiful
Today is the 106th anniversary of Ernst Friedrich Schumacher’s birth. To honor the occasion we have included below excerpts from his classic, and still profoundly relevant, 1966 essay “Buddhist Economics.” The full text and its multiple translations may be read at the Schumacher Center’s website. In 1973 “Buddhist Economics” was collected with other essays by E. … Continued
It’s Time For A New Economics
Having worked on and off in the arena of sustainable agriculture for nearly fifty years in both the government and nonprofit sectors, the question I get asked/challenged with most often is “When will the production of locally grown, nutritious food become economically viable?” For years I struggled mightily to find an honest and (very important … Continued
Buddhist Economics
In his now classic essay “Buddhist Economics,” Fritz Schumacher imagines an economic system informed by the teachings of the Buddha. Key to such a system is simplicity and non-violence. . . . the Buddhist economist would insist that a population basing its economic life on non-renewable fuels is living parasitically, on capital instead of income. … Continued
Salmon Economics (and other lessons)
What if our economics were based on laws of nature rather than fabricated laws of supply and demand? Kimbrell turns to Alaskan salmon for insight. In their spawning journey he sees examples of redistribution, reciprocity, and gift-giving—all aspects of pre-capitalist human economies—making the case that while most of us have come to see competition as natural, it was until recently a luxury that humans couldn’t afford if they wished to survive. But with the rise of capitalism, humanity collectively traded a life of doing for a life of having, making commodities out of everything, including land and our own labor. Rather than trying to make our economies fit natural systems, we now put enormous resources into reshaping nature to fit our economies. Salmon, subject to enclosed farming and genetic modification, are primary victims. Rather than despairing, Kimbrell sees the tenacity with which salmon fight their way up river as a sign that we can and must align human and natural economies.
Tributes to the Life of Bob Swann
Robert Swann was President of the Schumacher Center from its founding in 1980 until his passing. His enthusiasm and skills shaped the organization. He continues to inspires our work on local currencies and the commons. The following letters were written in tribute to Bob.
A Library of Values and Economics
The world view that we carry as a culture—our sense of optimism and of responsibility to future generations, our relationship to our neighbors and neighborhood, our capacity for empathy, our ability to recognize and mourn collective cultural losses—shapes our economic decisions. Much of the work that we do in the Schumacher Center is meant to … Continued
“Small is Beautiful” Interview
In this interview conducted by John Townes of Berkshire Trade and Commerce, Witt describes the work of the Schumacher Center and the future of the concept of Small is Beautiful. She posits that by making the effort to change our consumptive habits in the short run we can help bring about a lasting economy in which it is as easy and inexpensive to support local enterprises as it is to buy from a chain store.
Small is Beautiful: The History of the Schumacher Center
The publication of Small Is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered in 1973 marked a cultural shift in the understanding of the consequences of our everyday economic transactions. E. F. Schumacher introduced the concepts of human scale, local community, environmental responsibility, and permanence to our economic decision making. Following the death of Schumacher in 1977 a … Continued
Decentralist Economics
E. F. Schumacher, author of Small Is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered and A Guide for the Perplexed, cultivates the metaphysical and theological roots of decentralist economics and right livelihood. His lecture is part of the Lindisfarne 1974 Summer Conference entitled “Planetary Culture and the New Image of Humanity”. The Lindisfarne Tapes are selected recordings of presentations and conversations at the Lindisfarne Fellows’ meetings.
Buddhist Economics
Fritz Schumacher’s classic essay”Buddhist Economics” is widely understood as a call for an economics of peace. In the essay Schumacher imagines a multitude of vibrant, self-sufficient villages which, from their secure sense of community and place, work together in peace and cooperation. In 1973 it was collected with other essays by Ernest Friedrich Schumacher in Small Is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered. The book went on to be translated into 27 different languages and in 1995 was named by the Times Literary Supplement (London) as one of the hundred most influential books written after World War II. The following version of “Buddhist Economics” is in English.
Buddhist Economics: Translations
Fritz Schumacher’s classic essay”Buddhist Economics” is widely understood as a call for an economics of peace. In the essay Schumacher imagines a multitude of vibrant, self-sufficient villages which, from their secure sense of community and place, work together in peace and cooperation. In 1973 it was collected with other essays by Ernest Friedrich Schumacher in Small Is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered. The book went on to be translated into 27 different languages and in 1995 was named by the Times Literary Supplement (London) as one of the hundred most influential books written after World War II. The following version of “Buddhist Economics” is available in multiple translations.
Thoughts in the Presence of Fear
Part of “An Economics of Peace” – three essays published together in 2001. In the weeks following the tragedies of September 11, the Schumacher Center received numerous requests from around the world for Fritz Schumacher’s essay, “Buddhist Economics.” This essay was first published in 1973 in the classic Small Is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered. We are happy to offer a reprint of it here along with Wendell Berry’s “Thoughts in the Presence of Fear,” written in response to September 11. Accompanying these two essays is “A New Peace“, comments made at the Global Dialogue for Peace Gathering in Sussex, England, on September 17, 2001 by Susan Witt, Executive Director of the Schumacher Center. Taken together, these three essays sound a clear call for alternative economic systems as a means to a lasting peace the world over.
A New Peace
Part of An Economics of Peace – three essays published together in 2001. In the weeks following the tragedies of September 11, the Schumacher Center received numerous requests from around the world for Fritz Schumacher’s essay, “Buddhist Economics.” This essay was first published in 1973 in the classic Small Is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered. We are happy to offer a reprint of it here along with Wendell Berry’s “Thoughts in the Presence of Fear,” written in response to September 11. Accompanying these two essays is “A New Peace”, comments made at the Global Dialogue for Peace Gathering in Sussex, England, on September 17, 2001 by Susan Witt, Executive Director of the Schumacher Center. Taken together, these three essays sound a clear call for alternative economic systems as a means to a lasting peace the world over.
Susan Witt Interview on the CLT Movement
The Educator Who Showcased & Supplemented the Seminal Work of Swann and Schumacher Lisa Byers: I want to thank you for agreeing to do this interview, Susan. I feel delighted that I get to be the one to be in conversation with you. I’m also grateful to John Davis for wanting to capture these stories … Continued
Decentralism Persists
We invite you to explore the Decentralism File and make use of this new resource.
Left and Right : An Introduction to Decentralism
Left and Right, An Introduction to Decentralism Throughout human history, there has been a persistent yearning among ordinary peoples to live under comprehensible social, political, and economic conditions that afforded them shared customs and memories, agreed-upon standards of right behavior, recognized status, security against brigandage and invasion, and reasonable prospects for achieving economic security. For … Continued
Democratizing Monetary Issue: Tools for Resilience
Our celebration of Small is Beautiful continues in September with the theme of Democratizing Monetary Issue: Tools for Resilience. Our participants for this online conversation are introduced below.
Decentralism File
Welcome to the Decentralism File!This digital collection offers over 100 selections of decentralist thought from many different historic eras, authors, and countries. Together, these pieces exhibit the depth and breadth of decentralist thinking across the political, social and economic spheres of human organization, and across time. As a whole, the curation demonstrates intellectual engagement with … Continued
Democratizing Monetary Issue: Tools for Resilience
Our September list of organizations is highlighted as part of our 50th Anniversary Celebration of E.F. Schumacher’s Small is Beautiful The growing local currency movement is providing a positive way to respond to the alienation from the natural world fostered by an expanding global marketplace, and to restore the possibility of regional economies based on … Continued
Move the Money
With inequality in the U.S. reaching heights not seen in a century, Chuck’s message is clear: “we should be encouraging the flow of money. Move the money. Move it to the nonprofit charity sector…” This theme is shared among the participants of May’s Schumacher Conversation.
Reallocating Land: From Market to Commons
April’s panelists are those pioneering radical forms of land tenure that challenge the private property norm. Combined, their experience with voluntary land gifting and community trusteeship of working lands spans three continents.
The Question of Scale
“Fritz’s deceptively simple but prophetic questions about scale are gaining force. Decades later, they are turning out to lie at the core not only of commercial competitive advantage, but also of appropriate technology and right livelihood — issues on which the future of the world depends.” — Amory Lovins
Localizing Production: Communities Supporting Industry
As the 50th anniversary of the book Small is Beautiful, 2023 is our opportunity to advance solutions to today’s social, economic, and environmental challenges that build on Schumacher’s original vision. To meet this calling, the Schumacher Center is convening a monthly series featuring New Economic thinkers, builders and activists from a range of fields. “Schumacher Conversations: Envisioning … Continued
Garden Cities of To-Morrow ~ Ebenezer Howard
Ebenezer Howard’s book, originally published in London in 1898 as To-morrow: A Peaceful Path to Real Reform and then in 1902 as Garden Cities of To-morrow, proposed a peaceful but inherently radical experiment in city, town, and regional planning aimed at creating more healthy, self-sufficient, and just places to live and work that balanced the … Continued
A Global Perspective on the Green New Deal
Thank you, David; I want to make sure you’re around to write my obituary. I’m going to talk about global perspective on the Green New Deal. I’m using the Green New Deal because a lot of the work I do, especially as I start to pursue the concept of World Games, seems to be a … Continued
Stewarding a Legacy of Innovation
The project underway is to build out the ground floor level, an additional 1,600 square feet, providing a light and humidity controlled environment. By moving a significant part of the existing collection downstairs, it will mean additional room upstairs for educational programs.
Local Currency Models
The growing local currency movement is providing a positive way to respond to the alienation from the natural world fostered by an expanding global marketplace, and to restore the possibility of regional economies based on social and ecological principles. In a simple barter economy, production methods are highly visible. The value of the carrots we … Continued
Local Currencies Directory
The multi-layered nature of local currencies has captivated and energized an informal network of practitioners who are issuing scrip in their own communities. When these activists get together, there is no mistaking the positive dynamic at work. The movement has all the energy, idealism, and mobility of young adulthood – still experimenting to find the … Continued
Angels in the Details
We are pleased to share Greg Watson’s review of John Todd’s newly released book Healing Earth: An Ecologist’s Journey of Innovation and Environmental Stewardship (2019, North Atlantic Books). John Todd has been a pioneer in the field of ecological design and engineering for nearly five decades. Greg Watson first worked with Todd in the 1970’s at the New Alchemy Institute on Cape … Continued
Celebrating Birthday | New Website | 38 Years of Content
Today is the 107th anniversary of Ernst Friedrich Schumacher’s birth. We are celebrating with the launch of a newly designed website, packed with the fruits of 38 years of programming. You will find all of our past content grouped into three sections reflecting our mission: to envision the elements of a just and sustainable global economy; to apply these elements locally, … Continued
History
Since its founding in 1980 the Schumacher Center for a New Economics has been preserving and building upon the lifework of E. F. Schumacher, the German-born British economist. Because of his opposition to Hitler, Schumacher left Germany before the Second World War and spent the rest of his life in England, where he was a pioneer … Continued
Robert Swann’s Publications
Essays by Robert Swann on Local Currency 1995 | Local Currencies: Catalysts for Sustainable Regional Economies (updated 2017 by Susan Witt and printed as Democratizing Monetary Issue: Vision and Implementation in the Berkshire Region of the U.S.) 1995 | Los Dineros Locales: Catalizadores de Economias Regionales Sustentables 1986 | The Need for Community Based Credit Systems 1984 | The … Continued
Community Supported Industry White Paper
Identifying a Strategy Building a responsible movement for a new economy will require planning how to create new jobs without increased growth. One approach is a strategy of import-replacement with more labor intensive, smaller batch production, transported over shorter distances. The goal would be to create more jobs, but not more “stuff,” with a smaller … Continued
Regional Currencies’ Growing Influence
The economist E. F. Schumacher argued in Small Is Beautiful: Economics As If People Mattered that from a truly economic point of view the most rational way to produce is “from local resources, for local needs.” Jane Jacobs, the beloved author of Death and Life of Great American Cities, emphasized Schumacher’s point through her analysis … Continued
Lindisfarne Tapes
In 1972 William Irwin Thompson founded the Lindisfarne Association as an alternative way for the humanities to develop in a scientific and technical civilization. Lindisfarne became an association of scientists, artists, scholars, and contemplatives devoted to the study and realization of a new planetary culture. Lindisfarne began its activities in Southampton, New York, in 1973, then moved … Continued
Community Land Trust Program
In public talks and private discussions, Schumacher often pondered ‘the land question.’ An economic system that treats land as a commodity to be bought and sold on the market fails to foster the respect for land necessary to encourage its proper use. When an individual is allowed private ownership of a limited natural resource, that … Continued
Democratizing Monetary Issue: Vision and Implementation in the Berkshire Region of the U.S.
In this essay Witt argues that the current centralized banking and money system in the United States has outlived its usefulness. Since the Federal Reserve Act of 1913, savings have been funneled out of rural areas into the large financial centers, where small businesses must compete with multinational corporations for credit. Monetary decisions are based on the needs of the largest depositors in the largest cities while the needs of vast sections of the country go unmet. With a locally-issued currency circulating in an appropriately circumscribed area or bioregion, credit decisions can be made by people with particular personal knowledge not only of the borrowers but also of the needs of the region as a whole. Launched in 2006, BerkShares, a currency for the Berkshire region of Massachusetts, provides the story of one community working to put vision into practice.
E. F. Schumacher
Ernst Friedrich Schumacher was an internationally influential economic thinker, statistician, and economist in Britain. His ideas became popularized in much of the English-speaking world during the 1970s. He is best known for his critique of Western economies and his proposals for human-scale, decentralized, and appropriate technologies. E. F. Schumacher was born in Germany in 1911. … Continued
Ernst Friedrich Schumacher
(AUGUST 16, 1911 — SEPTEMBER 4, 1977)”Since there is now increasing evidence of environmental deterioration, particularly in living nature, the entire outlook and methodology of economics is being called into question. The study of economics is too narrow and too fragmentary to lead to valid insights, unless complemented and completed by a study of meta-economics…”- E. F. … Continued
Library
Our society and educational system teaches us that solutions lie in progress – better and faster technology and more machines. When we as a society fail, so often we place blame on these machines and on technology. But the crisis, as Schumacher warned us, is not what is wrong with machines, but what is wrong … Continued
About
OUR MISSION -To envision a just and regenerative economy; apply the concepts locally; then share the results for broad replication.Founded in 1980 the Schumacher Center for a New Economics works to envision the elements of a just and regenerative global economy; undertakes to apply these elements in its home region of the Berkshires in western Massachusetts; and then develops … Continued
Envision
Annual E. F. Schumacher Lectures Established in 1981, the collected Schumacher Center Lectures capture some of the most visionary voices that speak to the urgent need to transform our economic, social, and cultural systems in ways that support both the planet and its citizens. Schumacher Center Library Housed in a 3,600 square foot building … Continued
Community Supported Industry
From the point of view of Buddhist economics, therefore, production from local resources for local needs is the most rational way of economic life, while dependence on imports from afar and the consequent need to produce for export to unknown and distant peoples is highly uneconomic and justifiable only in exceptional cases and on a … Continued
Local Currencies Program
One of the crucial tasks of the new century will be to so shape our economic system so that environmental and social safeguards are built into its design… By intentionally narrowing our choices of consumer goods to those locally made, local currencies allow us to know more fully the story of items purchased, stories that … Continued
Public Voice for Schumacher Center’s Sustainable Economic Policies
Watson, former Massachusetts Commissioner of Agriculture, discusses his role as the Schumacher Center’s Director of Policy and Systems Design as well as his background and views on a variety of issues in this interview with Berkshire Trade and Commerce. Watson is a public voice for sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, new monetary systems, equitable land tenure arrangements, neighborhood planning through democratic processes, government policies that support human-scale development, citizen financing of new enterprises, import-replacement strategies, and other concepts.
Celebrating Centenary | Honoring Legacy
August 16th is the 100th Anniversary of E. F. Schumacher’s birth. Together with his family and other organizations around the world, we are celebrating his legacy. Posted online are: Our favorite quotes from his 1973 book “Small Is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered;” Multiple translations of the universally favorite essay “Buddhist Economics;” Barbara Wood’s … Continued
Lecture Videos Online: Gus Speth, Neva Goodwin, and Stewart Wallis
The 30th Annual E. F. Schumacher Lectures on November 20th brought together three strong voices calling for change in our economic system and outlining strategies for that change. It was a remarkable gathering. With appreciation to Peter Montague, the talks by Gus Speth, Neva Goodwin, and Stewart Wallis may now be viewed online. In his … Continued