About the real economy

We believe that one of the prominent aspects of society which stands between us and a more peaceful and just world are the ideas that underpin our global economic system.  That system – based on endlessly expanding economic growth and global trade – is concentrating wealth in big businesses and banks while impoverishing the majority; it is poisoning the air, soil and water; it is harming our children; and it is leading to increased conflict both within and between nations.

We need a radically different economic architecture – one that goes beyond left and right politics.  We need to return to the real economy. One way to do that is through empowering Local economies. Localization means increased employment, reduced waste and pollution, stronger, healthier communities, and more accountable institutions.  The good news is that a shift towards the local is already underway, led by thousands of farmers’ markets, local business alliances and community banks.

But while the localization movement has been growing from the grassroots, it struggles against the injustice of heavy bureaucratic regulations and taxes at the local and regional level. There is an urgent need for changes in policy: we need to shift the subsidies, taxes, and regulations that currently support global coorporations, so that we instead strengthen smaller local and national business. Decisions about land, money, and resources should belong to affected communities – not to distant boardrooms and multinationals.

The Real Economy and localization  is not an impossible dream: if the many millions of people working to create a better world – from protecting rainforests to feeding the homeless – also address the economic root causes of these problems, then the movement for economic change will grow rapidly, and a better future will be within reach.