Doughnut Economics
“Humanity’s 21st century challenge is to meet the needs of all within the means of the planet. In other words, to ensure that no one falls short on life’s essentials (from food and housing to healthcare and political voice), while ensuring that collectively we do not overshoot our pressure on Earth’s life-supporting systems, on which we fundamentally depend – such as a stable climate, fertile soils, and a protective ozone layer. The Doughnut of social and planetary boundaries is a playfully serious approach to framing that challenge, and it acts as a compass for human progress this century.”
Doughnut Economics is a book by renegade economist and the creator of the Doughnut of social and planetary boundaries, Kay Raworth.
In short, the donut is a ‘miracle diagram’ that can change the world. The inner ring represents the “social foundation”, where everyone on the planet has sufficient food and social security. The outer ring represents the “ecological ceiling”, beyond which excess consumption degrades the environment beyond repair. The aim is to get humanity into the area between the rings, where everyone has enough.
The book explains Doughnut Economics and identifies the seven critical ways in which mainstream economics has failed us and offers an alternative roadmap for bringing us into a ‘sweet spot’.
Read it here.
