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ECG International Conference
Our most sincere thank you!One month after the event, we want to start this newsletter by sincerely thanking all of you who have shown interest and have resonated with our III ECG International Conference, last 3rd through 5th of June in Leeuwarden, The Netherlands. We appreciate the energy from both those who have created and shared their knowledge, as well as those eager to learn more, connect and grow the movement. 
Organizing committee in front of de Harmonie (event hall). Our most sincere thank you to the team! What happened at the 3rd ECG International Conference?The event was organized by a host consortium made up of Wetsus, the European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology; the two regional Universities NHL Stenden and Hanzengoheschool Groningen, and the Science and Research Hub of the International Federation of the ECG. The first day was dedicated to scientific and poster presentations with an academic focus. The second day hinged on practical cases and experiences. The third and last day had an applied orientation: in participatory workshops, we asked assistants to share their ideas, learnings and experiences gathered along the previous two days, and to converge into action points and research objectives. In an exceptional setting next to the city's canals, this edition of the international conference has achieved its objectives of, growing the ECG movement, continuing the excellent work done in the 2019 and 2022 editions, and widening the conversation to include more voices while also raising its level in many aspects. Highly renowned speakers gifted us with keynote presentations: Bas van Bavel, Christian Felber, Cees Buisman, Lisa Herzog, Matthias Olthaar, Niels Faber, Lebohang Liepollo Pheko, and Rutger Hoeckstra. From different worldviews, they explored the economy needed to respond to the future and region-level development needs. Their presentations addressed topics of maximum relevance such as, social and environmental impact; democracy and governance systems; the new macroeconomic metrics and systems substitutes for GDP; post growth; water management; diversity, gender equality and the restoration of the ‘majority world’ by the ‘minority world’ (in Lebohang Leopollo Pheko’s words). Attendees enjoyed a very complete and exhaustive vision of the current situation with in-depth analyses and concrete proposals. The conference ended with the delivery of a summary document of the Manifesto that will be published with guides and proposals for civil society, governments, the scientific community and the business world. Within the framework of scientific presentations and cases, participants also had the space to discuss with speakers and peers their research and their work. How they contribute to the real economy, one in which all forms of life thrive within planetary boundaries. Watch here the aftermovie of the event! Converging towards a future-fit economyThe main dish of this international conference was served by the representatives of five ‘alternative’ economic movements who converged in the Monday evening round table. Or simply, as Jason Nardi put it, representatives of economics, given that these models should be mainstream and orthodoxy. Considered a historical milestone by many of the participants, Christian Felber (ECG) sat next to, Jason Nardi (Social and Solidary Economy), Kate Raworth (Doughnut Economics), Lebohang Liepollo Pheko (Wellbeing, Decolonial and Feminist Economics), and Paul Schenderling (postgrowth), in a constructive session fluently and subtly moderated by Katy Wiese, Policy Manager for Economic Transition and Gender Equality with the European Environmental Bureau. | Section |
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| Thus, the meeting of five prominent representatives of economic movements that provide new narratives to go beyond the current neoliberal paradigms so consolidated in the global economic vision. Here some specific highlights: - A brilliant Kate Raworth spotlit the great moment we live in as global economic organisations and institutions; she fostered all to question capitalism and learn and use the tools of the real economy.
- Christian Felber (ECG) and Jason Nardi (Social and Solidarity) agreed to take advantage of the opportunity opened by the interest of regulatory institutions and the creation of measurement standards, to ensure that key indicators are not left out and to request a participatory and transparent elaboration.
- Lebohang Liepollo Pheko (Wellbeing, Decolonial and Feminist Economics), denounced the large outstanding debt with the global south (majority world in her own words). Symbolic aid is not what is needed, but decolonization and re-balancing of the global economy.
- Paul Schenderling (Postgrowth) reflected on the issues of sufficiency, consumption and the proposals from post-growth perspectives.
Moderator Katie Wiese masterfully led the table and the numerous interventions in the form of questions and reflections from the audience, testimony to this historic meeting. |
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Image of the round table. Clockwise: Paul Schenderling, Lebohang Liepollo Pheko, Katie Wiese, Jason Nardi, Christian Felber and Kate Raworth (on screen). |
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The speakers, aware of the symbolic relevance of the grassroots movement headquarters, made a commitment to stop calling themselves alternative economies and postulate themselves as the future-fit and, thus, new real economy. They discussed the need to converge strategically and agreed to start with consensual steps: - Create a common vocabulary, a common language, of the real economy, open to every person and not reserved to “experts”; - Create a gallery of practical future-fit economic models to be published in open format on a website accessible to everyone; - Create theoretical and strategic links between movements; and - Allow for and foster diverse solutions to the most pressing problems, rather than trying to find one-size-fits-all top-down recipes. We'll publish the highlights video of this event soon! Stay tuned!
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Participants in group discussion during the workshops |
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| To mirror the speakers, the conference organizers decided to invite key listeners. While the former offered great food for thought, the latter played a crucial role in digesting, analysing and synthetizing the many perspectives into actionable proposals. The organisation prepared a draft skeleton of a manifesto, a written statement with prescriptive notions for carrying out change at multiple levels. The key listeners were asked to nurture the fibres on that skeleton, to enrich the manifesto with the vibrating ideas they heeded throughout the conference. Finally, the workshops gave the space to all participants to take both roles as speakers and listeners. In Quechua –one of the main languages of the Inca empire, chasqui means 'the one who gives and takes'. These were the 'mailmen' back in the Inca empire. The empire was very much dependent on them because they were responsible for delivering and bringing back messages between communities all over the territory, for the benefit of both the receiving and the sending communities. And this is the role we asked attendees to play. That of a community responsible for their own but also for their surrounding communities' (or regions) wellbeing and thriving. The outcomes of the workshops: first, a concise list of action points to galvanize the manifesto and second, a set of research objectives to complement the manifesto with a research agenda for both academia and practice. |
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| Here an extract of the manifesto.Minor details miss to have the final version, which we'll share in due time. A shift in the collective mindset is required to find new answers to existential and moral challenges. We consider personal transformation a lever for regional societal and organisational transformation. Technological innovations should, by principle, be in service of a value-driven, healthy, wellbeing-oriented economy. This transformation entails decolonization and gender justice. We must reduce the overconsumption of resources and bring the economy back into harmony with the living world, while creating livelihood opportunities for all. Gross Domestic Product (GDP)-oriented growth exacerbates our environmental and social challenges. Instead, steering on ESD development in the region allows for evolving into an economy of appropriate scale, in which improving the well-being of all living creatures within planetary boundaries is the primary goal. The conference in numbers- 230 participants from more than 12 countries
- 8 keynote speakers
- 1 round table with the 5 representatives of real economic models: well being, care, doughnut, social and solidarity, and the ECG.
- 44 presentations of scientific papers
- 8 posters
- 10 practical cases
- 1 future-fit economy to develop
- Plenty (not a number, we know… not a quantifiable pluriverse) of alternatives
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Drawing by Paz Arando (key listener) |
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| The ECG Science and Research Community keeps on the good work online
The conference is the face-to-face meeting point of a community of scientists, researchers, academics, students and practitioners who, a few months before, began their journey on LinkedIn (ECG Science and Research). There the projects presented, and the new ones that are generated, will take shape and gain support. Join us here, or by scanning the QR code. |
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Speakers from Argentina, Germany and Austria with JC Ramos from the ECG Science and Research Hub |
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The speakers of the round table with the coordinators of the Science and Research Hub (Fabricio Bonilla and JC Ramos) |
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Poster exhibition area |
Pre-conference ECGIC24: Care for the FutureThree weeks prior to the conference, on May 14, the Economy for the Common Good Netherlands, WEALL Netherlands, YNOVA, and RUG Campus Fryslân (University of Groningen) organized the pre-conference of the ECGIC24 in Leeuwarden. The gathering of 30 people from the Dutch forefront of 'broad prosperity in practice' offered a space to, start thinking the Manifesto with Action & Research Agenda for the ECGIC24, strengthen each other, and work together towards creating more regenerative impact in the future. How do we accelerate the development towards a fair and sustainable society?
This question is being asked all over the world and was central to ECGIC24. In this preparatory event, they brought to the table science and practice to stir up the conversation on how we can accelerate the transition to fair and sustainable urban and rural regions through various future-fit economic models, such as the Economy for the Common Good, Doughnut Economy, Degrowth, Postgrowth, The Commons, Care Economy, and more. In the afternoon, Egbert Dommerholt (University of Groningen) outlined his vision on Future-fit Economic Models and made a passionate plea for an Economy of Care instead of an Economy of Carelessness. Elly Rijnierse (ECG NL and YNOVA) introduced the ECGIC24 with the three central themes: Environmental Sustainability, Social Sustainability, and Strengthening Democracy. The atmosphere was excellent, and we gathered many (research) questions and ideas. An important message to the scientific community: Do not make us study subjects but make us part of the study and take us seriously! For example, by involving us in the different stages of the research process. This can be in the form of formulating the research question, the research methodology, conducting the research, and formulating conclusions and recommendations. This means a much more advisory and facilitating role for the scientist, acting at one moment as a traditional researcher, and at other times as a coach, advisor, or sparring partner.
Jacqueline Hofstede Economy for the Common Good Netherlands and Ynova Innovation
EducationMeeting between ECG and the Economy for the Common Good Chair of the Universitat de Valencia[SPA below] Last May 21, the Faculty of Economics of the University of Valencia hosted a meeting between representatives of the Chairs of the Economy for the Common Good (EBC) and Business and Humanism (EyH) of the UV, and members of the ECG, to discuss education and future collaboration topics. Jaime Güemes and Tomás F. Gómez attended on behalf of the UV chairs, and Luciana Cornaglia, Paco Álvarez, and José Carlos Ramos from the ECG, with the latter also representing the Open University of Catalonia (UOC). Jan Brinkmann from the ECG Education Hub also contributed content. During the meeting, it was proposed that the UV and the Valencian Association (AVEBC) work together to find new sponsors. The importance of presenting content and activity proposals to attract funding was emphasized. The positive relationship with the Vice-Rectorate of Sustainability and the external projection of the EyH Chair was mentioned. Academically, the creation of postgraduate courses in collaboration with the ECG, with potential accreditation from the IF ECG, was proposed. The EyH Chair presented the "Report for Good" platform to help SMEs with impact reporting, aligning with European regulations. Luciana Cornaglia explained that the ECG offers a model of cultural and socio-economic transformation. Paco Álvarez reinforced this idea, differentiating it from other certifications like B Corp. The value of the development process of the Common Good Balance (CGB) and peer-to-peer analysis was highlighted. José Carlos Ramos presented the academic and scientific community of the S&R Hub on LinkedIn, used to promote research collaboration. He also introduced the Network of Universities Promoting Education and Research on ECG (RUPEI, acronym in Spanish), which aims to integrate the ECG into curricula and academic activities. The Erasmus+ project to translate the training curriculum into Spanish and English by the end of 2024 was mentioned. It was proposed to disseminate the online ECG Science and Research community, to affiliate the chairs with NUPER, to collaborate with municipalities on sustainability projects, and to prepare proposals for potential sponsors. Finally, an invitation was extended to learn about the Impact Plan project that will be presented at the III International ECG Conference in the Netherlands in June. Encuentro entre la EBC y las Cátedras de Economía del Bien Común (EBC) y Empresa y Humanismo (EyH) de la UV El pasado 21 de mayo, la Facultat d’Economia de la Universitat de València acogió una reunión entre representantes de las Cátedras de Economía del Bien Común (EBC) y Empresa y Humanismo (EyH) de la UV, y miembros de la EBC, para discutir temas de educación y colaboración futura. Asistieron Jaime Güemes y Tomás F. Gómez por parte de las cátedras UV, y Luciana Cornaglia, Paco Álvarez y José Carlos Ramos de la EBC. Este último como también como Académico de la UOC. Además contribuyó con contenidos Jan Brinkmann, del Nodo de Educación de la EBC. Durante la reunión se propuso trabajar conjuntamente la UV y la Associació Valenciana (AVEBC), para la búsqueda de nuevos patrocinadores. Se subrayó la importancia de presentar propuestas de contenidos y actividades para atraer financiación. Se mencionó la relación positiva con el Vicerrectorado de Sostenibilidad y la proyección externa de la Cátedra EyH. En términos académicos, se apostó por la creación de cursos de postgrado en colaboración con la EBC, con una posible acreditación de la IF ECG. La Cátedra EyH presentó la plataforma "Report for Good" para ayudar a las PYMEs con el reporting de impacto, alineándose con las normativas europeas. Luciana Cornaglia explicó que la EBC ofrece un modelo de transformación cultural y socioeconómica. Paco Álvarez reforzó esta idea, diferenciándola de otras certificaciones como B Corp. Se destacó el valor del proceso de desarrollo del Balance del Bien Común (BBC) y el análisis peer to peer. José Carlos Ramos presentó la comunidad académica y científica del S&R Hub en LinkedIn, utilizada para fomentar la colaboración en investigación. También presentó la Red de Universidades Promotoras de Educación e Investigación sobre EBC (RUPEI), que busca integrar la EBC en currículums y actividades académicas. Se mencionó el proyecto Erasmus+ para traducir el currículum formativo al español e inglés para finales de 2024.Se propuso difundir la comunidad online del S&R ECG, adherir las cátedras a la RUPEI, colaborar con ayuntamientos para proyectos de sostenibilidad y preparar propuestas para potenciales patrocinadores. Finalmente, se invitó a conocer el proyecto Impact Plan que se presentará en la III Conferencia Internacional ECG en los Países Bajos en junio New website to learn and teach about degrowthA new website, https://explore.degrowth.net/, recently came to our attention. In the works of their creators: This website is meant to make it easier to learn and talk about degrowth. It emphasises the concepts of empathy, communication/propaganda, and collective action[. And] has several tools to help individuals and organisations learn, create and share degrowth content. The website was developed through the collaboration of over 100 people and organisations. The idea and coordination came from Juan Pablo Arellano from Mexico. There is, he argues, still a very “Global North perspective” on degrowth. Therefore, he encourages the movement to work towards making it more diverse, inclusive, anti-imperialist/supremacist and decolonial. The website opens by clearly stating what it aims at providing: 🌱 Knowledge on degrowth that is both diverse and accessible
🌱 Tools to make communicating degrowth fun and easy
🌱 Inspiration to help you imagine the good life with less
The introductory page of the site continues with an inspiring call to collective action: In these critical times, our collective action is more than a choice—it’s a necessity. The challenges we face are daunting, but within them lies the opportunity for profound change as long as we work collectively. Each effort, each voice, and each step forward contributes to a tide of positive change. You are a vital part of this movement. Embrace the responsibility with courage and determination. It’s time to act, not just for ourselves but for all the beings on this planet and the generations to come.
Now the website is under the responsibility of the International Degrowth Network (IDN).
EventsFestival on the ECG in Eco-village Sieben LindenIn September of this year, there will be another festival on the Economy for the Common Good with Christian Felber at the Sieben Linden ecovillage. We are interested in reaching young people and enabling them to participate in this event. Economy for the Common Good and Movement Festival with Christian Felber. Let’s get the entrenched circumstances to dance! Let us rethink the economy and get it moving. Lectures and impulses from Christian Felber interspersed with movement workshops. An economic system that considers the well-being of people and nature is possible and realistic. For you and me! Christian Felber initiated the "Economy for the Common Good" and shares his vision in a creative way. The seminar fee should not be an obstacle, so we offer discounted seminar participation for young people: young people (under 28) with great commitment and a small budget especially want to learn at Sieben Linden in these times of crisis. The JENGA Fund finances accommodation and meals for youth and young adults participating in seminars organized by the Friends of Ecovillage Association (except for the summer camp). They then only pay the reduced seminar costs. If you are interested in funding from the JENGA Fund, please include a short motivation letter with your seminar registration: Bildungsreferat@siebenlinden.org. You can find more details here, and a podcast on the topic can be found here: Economy for the Common Good Podcast (German). We wish the organisers and participants lots of fun and learning.
PublicationsPublication on ECG, economic and organisational democracyResearchers Matthias Kasper and Philip Euteneuer (Humanistic Management Practices gGmbH) recently published and shared with us the paper "Das Ganze der Demokratie?! Unternehmensdemokratiein der Gemeinwohl-Ökonomie und darüber hinaus" (The Whole of Democracy?! Corporate Democracy in the Economy for the Common Good and Beyond). In it, they look at organisational practices that contribute to the democratisation of the economy. They introduce and explain the concepts of economic and organisational democracy and the principles of the Economy for the Common Good (ECG). Additionally, they analyse, (1) the "Common Good topics" A4 to E4 of the value "Transparency and co-decision" according to the approach of the ECG and, (2) co-determination practices in companies with a common good balance sheet as a starting point. Furthermore, remarkable organisational democratic practices beyond the horizon of the ECG are taken up and presented. What follows is a selection of extracts from the paper’s introduction, which sets the table to the applied analysis aforementioned: What, how, and for whom is produced is largely decided by companies whose investment and production decisions are made by capital owners. There are companies that, in terms of the number of employees and their turnover, can compete with cities and even small states, yet without forms of democratic participation from employees or other stakeholders. […] Heinz-Josef Bontrup speaks in this sense of a "half democracy." While companies exercise immense economic power in society and are often involved in decision-making processes of democratic institutions, they are themselves mostly not democratically organized. […] For a sustainable and life-serving economy, the democratization of companies and the resulting "complete democratization of society" is an important piece of the puzzle. This way, politics can consist of identifying and balancing diverse interests instead of aligning with the interests of economic power levers.
Here you can access the full paper (in German). We thank Matthias Kasper and Philip Euteneuer for sharing this work with the ECG S&R community! The Institut für Betriebslehre der Agrar- und Ernährungswirtschaft (Department of Business Administration of the Agricultural and Food Sector) – IBAE, of the Justus Liebig University in Gießen, Germany, recently shared with us two publications of their (co-)authorship that explore corporate sustainability with inputs from the ECG school. - Overview book chapter that explores social accountability and reporting related to ECG:
Herzig, C., 2023, Reporting, Materiality and Corporate Sustainability, in: Rasche, A., Morsing, M., Moon, J., Kourula, A., Hrsg., Corporate Sustainability: Managing Responsible Business in a Globalised World, Cambridge University Press, 334-369. 2. Open-access paper that presents ECG as one of the assessment and reporting frameworks analysed: Küchler, R., Herzig, C., 2021, Connectivity is key: Holistic sustainability assessment and reporting from the perspective of food manufacturers, British Food Journal 123(9), 3154-3171. They also brought to our attention their ECG-related academic/teaching offering, (1) MSc Sustainable Food Economics, and (2) various seminars on sustainability and food economics, among which ‘Food Economics oriented towards the ecology and the common good’ stands out. All programmes are offered in German. You can find these and other ECG-related academic/teaching offerings in our online library. We thank the IBAE team for sharing their excellent work with us and the ECG S&R Community, and we encourage them to keep the good work and near closer to the movement.
The Economy for the Common Good movement evolves thanks to the commitment and dedication of an amazing team of volunteers spread across the globe. Still, our professional work is only possible on the base of membership fees and donations - we are highly grateful for any contribution. You too can get involved and help: This newsletter might link to pages of other content providers for which we are not responsible and cannot be held liable or provide any assistance. You have received this ECG newsletter because you have signed up for it. Further information on the handling of personal data by the ECG can be found here (https://www.ecogood.org/imprint/). To unsubscribe, please send an (empty) e-mail to wissenschaft+unsubscribe@list.ecogood.org and reply to the automated message you will get. (Normally it suffices to reply with an empty message.) Learn more about our ECG AssociationsAustria | Belgium | Chile | Germany | Italy | Luxembourg | Netherlands | Spain | Sweden | Switzerland
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