The Progress Illusion: Reclaiming our Future from the Fairytale of Economics, by Jon D. Erickson (2022, Island Press), provides an excellent starting point for conceptualizing transformation and answers questions such as “where are we headed and why?” (p. 159). He inspires relatability and curiosity through his arguments and utilizes ecological economics, political economy, and feminist theory to discuss neoliberal economics and its detrimental role in addressing the climate crisis. Erickson clearly and accessibly outlines the historical context of neoliberal economics while offering anecdotes from the perspective of his younger self as a conflicted undergraduate student grappling with the contradictions of neoliberalism and environmental conservation. As a student previously enrolled in Economics 101 at the same time as Introduction to Environmental Sustainability, his commentary about the permeating role of economics in academia was highly relevant and valuable to read. Erickson also describes the fundamental differences between environmental economics and ecological economics in which the former reinforces neoliberal ideologies and is predicated on principles such as ecosystem services, willingness to pay, cost-benefit analysis, contingent evaluation, and value transfer, whereas the latter prioritizes social well-being and ecological limits while providing a critical starting point for systemic issues. Additionally, he outlines the intentional, hierarchical design of economics placed above other liberal studies subjects and argues that this structure of economics in education is inadequate, unsustainable, and potentially dangerous. Erickson claims that instead of prioritizing GDP growth, societies must shift towards collective health, wealth, and well-being as products of social cooperation and community investment. In the concluding chapter, Erickson suggests, “The secret sauce is when community organizing escalates into full-on social movement building. When moments become movements, watch out, change will happen, even in economics.” Despite the optimistic tone, few mechanisms for change are provided. He offers narrow alternative solutions such as joining existing “movements,” expanding employee ownership, joining credit unions and nonprofit organizations, community investment, and organizing local food hubs, yet does not discuss how these actions will address root causes and injustices of the current neoliberal economic system. As Erickson stated, increasing community action and social movement initiatives are essential aspects of transformation; however, the “how” is missing from this text and requires further interrogation.
https://islandpress.org/books/progress-illusion
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