Earth Economics

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Film Documentary : "What's the Economy for, Anyway?"
The issue of the economy is unquestionably one of the most pressing in America today, and solutions cannot wait. This film covers many of the issues within the larger economic question, including the efficacy of the GDP as a dominant economic measure, tax policies favoring the wealthy, frayed health and social safety nets, and a tattered environment. The film host, David Batker, the executive director of Earth Economics and former employee of both the World Bank AND Greenpeace, takes viewers on a sobering yet humorous journey, using many statistics and facts to compare the well-being of Americans to that of citizens in other industrialized nations. By introducing progressive economic ideas that build on our own economic history, the film effectively educates lay audiences, students and decision-makers alike. The film also points the direction toward economic solutions and policies (e.g. health care, fair trade, cap and auction, minimum paid vacation, etc.) and cites the Great Depression and subsequent New Deal as examples of how Americans have created new models and measures to pull through even more difficult times. The viewer is left with the understanding that systemic change is not only absolutely necessary but completely possible—in fact, it has happened before.

(2 min)

What GDP Measures? GDP measures what we do, only if we spend money. GDP does not measue what we do that valuable or useful.

(4 min)

Quality of Life? How does the USA compare with other countries?

(1 min)

Health The USA is 42nd in the world in infant mortality. Only four countries in the world don't provide women with pait time off for childbirth. People in almost every other rich country live longer than American's do. The USA has the highest obesity. The USA has the most expensive health care.

(4 min)

Happiness The Swiss, Danes, and Dutch are more happy than Americans. Americans are more likely to be depressed.

(2 min)

Security At least you've got a job; right? But how secure is your job? Americans are five times more likely to be murderered than europeans are. More Americans declare personal bankruptcy every year than graduate from college. The USA locks up seven time as many people as europeans.

(4 min)

Time to be Happy? Remember the promise of time saving technology? Where is the time we saved? There is no entitlement to paid vacations in the USA. Fewer than 50% of Americans took one week off during the year.

(4 min)

Social Justice? Is our society fair? Does the USA offer equality of opportunity?

(3 min)

What about the Long Run - Sustainability? I'm an ecological economist. Americans have the largest global footprint on the planet. The ecological footprint of the typical American is 25 acres. If everyone lived as American's do we need five earth-like planets to sustain us. Economist talk a lot about built capital, but are not so conversant with human capital, social capital and natural capital.

(5 min)

Some Ancient History Has the economy always been this bad? 1929, the great depression. The new deal, an active government putting America back to work. "We're all in this together."

(3 min)

Modern Economic History America build the middle class, by building the economy. Greater equality brought lower profits for business and smaller income for rich American's. The Republican Party wanted smaller government, and more privatisation. Cut taxes and reduce regulation. Was that the recipe for prosperity?

(4 min)

Financial Crisis In the late 1990's lending became easy and Americans could buy what they wanted. Housing prices rose rapidly. Good times were here. Until people found it difficult to repay their mortgages and loans.

(3 min)

What's Next? What's the economy for anyway? We need a replacement for GDP. What do we need out of the economy? Europeans pay more taxes, but they get something for what they spend. On almost every measure Europeans are better off than Americans. We need to rethink the American Dream.

(5 min)

Mission Statement:

Earth Economics applies new economic tools and principles to meet the challenges of the 21st century: achieving the need for just and equitable communities, healthy ecosystems, and sustainable economies.

Earth Economics works both locally, nationally, and internationally. Our work has influenced policy and shifted investment towards sustainable land management and economic policy.

Our program work includes:
* Ecosystem Service Valuations: Studies evaluating value of the goods and services our ecosystems provide, providing economic justification for shifting investment toward environmental restoration.
* Funding mechanisms for conservation and restoration: Working with local jurisdictions such as the King County Conservation District, we apply innovative, ecologically based approaches to fund critical conservation work.
* Educational outreach: In collaboration with our past funders, other nonprofits, and stakeholders, we have conducted workshops, lectures series, and media events to increase awareness about ecological economics.
* Conversion of built capital to sustainability: Working with the electronic recycling industry, paper mills, other industries, Earth Economics helps catalyze the shift from unsustainable to sustainable technology and industrial processes.
The intended outcome of our work is to shift away from the failed economic policies of the past, towards an approach that is both economically viable and environmentally sustainable.

The History of Ecological Economics
Economic Terms
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