Published by New Society Publishers
Foreword by Herman Daly
The Economics of Happiness challenges the gospel of economic growth and the promise of capitalism by presenting a new economic model — "Genuine Wealth" — based on the premise that economic development can be oriented towards genuine well-being and happiness.
Why, in spite of increasing economic prosperity over the past 50 years, are many conditions of well-being in decline and rates of happiness largely unchanged since the 1950s?
Why do our measures of economic progress not reflect the values that make us happy: supportive relationships, meaningful work, a healthy environment and our spiritual well-being?
We all know that money can't buy you love... or happiness, but many of us live our lives as though the accumulation of wealth is the key to our dreams.
Economist Mark Anielski has developed a new and practical economic model called "Genuine Wealth" to measure the real determinants of well-being and help redefine progress. The Economics of Happiness shows:
- How economics, capitalism, accounting and banking — which dominate our consciousness — can be reoriented towards the pursuit of genuine happiness.
- How to rediscover the original meaning of the language of economics.
- How to measure the five capitals of Genuine Wealth: human, social, natural, built and financial.
- How nations, governments, communities and businesses are using the Genuine Wealth model to build a new economy of well-being.
- How you and your family can apply the Genuine Wealth model in your lives.
Anielski's road-map towards this vision of flourishing economies of well-being will resonate with individuals, communities and governments interested in issues of sustainability and quality of life.
Available at: New Society Publishers
ISBN: 978086571596
"Mark Anielski is a pioneer of green economics. In 2000, along with the Pembina Institute, he helped create Alberta's first Genuine Progress Indicator. In this book Mark investigates the heart of what we should be trying to measure in economics-the values that make us truly happy. Only when we measure the real determinants of well-being and happiness will we be able to measure true progress."
About the Author
Mark Anielski is an economist, consultant and Adjunct Professor at both the School of Business, University of Alberta and the Bainbridge Island Graduate Institute. He was named a "rising star" amongst international progressive economists by Adbusters magazine in 2004, and awarded the 2004 ECO Award for his work on the Genuine Progress Indicator. Mark created the Genuine Progress Indicator for Alberta while working with the Pembina Institute and contributed to updating the United States Genuine Progress Indicator a few years ago.
