Season 3, Ep 11: A Wellbeing Economy for All, with Lisa Hough-Stewart and Amanda Janoo
The economy is just how we produce and provide for one another. So what if we threw out the old indicators of growth and profit, and instead measured its success by our collective wellbeing?
On this episode of the reMAKERS podcast, we talk with Lisa Hough-Stewart (Implementation Lead) and Amanda Janoo (Economics and Policy Lead) from the global Wellbeing Economy Alliance — about the countries and businesses that are doing just that.
We learn that the term ‘economy’, and the indicators of GDP, stock market growth and employment, didn’t enter the public discourse until the 1930s, as people tried to grapple with the unemployment and poverty experienced during the Great Depression.
Now, nearly 100 years later, we’re still using those same indicators to understand and guide our economy. But the issues that we’re facing today are different: climate change, species extinction, mental health and more. It’s time for a new way of measuring economic success.
This is an uplifting conversation, where Lisa and Amanda guide us through what a Wellbeing Economy could look like, and how we can build it together.
This episode of the reMAKERS was recorded from the lands of the Gubbi Gubbi people, in Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. We honour the Traditional Owners of these lands and waters, and pay our respect to Elders past and present.
Show notes
Things and people we mention
Dr Katherine Trebeck, founder of WEAll, on the reMAKERS podcast
The SDG Lab at UN Geneva’s event recording of ‘Rethinking our Economic Systems for Long term Sustainable Development’
Sophie Howe, former Wales Future Generations Commissioner, on the reMAKERS podcast
The Wellbeing Economy Governments (WEGo)
Read about how the Scottish Government is focussing on a Wellbeing Economy
Nicola Sturgeon’s Ted Talk on why governments should prioritse wellbeing
WEAll’s research on the Wellbeing Reflex
The Beyond Growth Conference in the EU’s Parliament last May
Recommendations and good reads
The Economics of Arrival by Katherine Trebeck and Jeremy Williams
Post Growth – Life After Capitalism by Professor Tim Jackson
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerera
The Divide by Jason Hickel
WEAll’s Transforming Business Guide, featuring Locavore and Auchrannie Resort
Australia reMADE’s work on the public good, care, connection and contribution
Things you can do
Check out WEAll’s website.
Join WEAll’s Australian hub.
Hit ‘follow’ in your podcast app (eg, Apple, Spotify) to subscribe to the show and get our latest episodes.
Share this episode with your people.
Find and follow on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook (@Australia reMADE).
Email us at podcast@AustraliareMADE.org to say hello, give us feedback, share ideas!