Economics Archives

What’s an Open Economic System?

Is the economy an open or a closed system? Why does traditional economics treat the economy as a closed system? According to Kate Raworth, traditional economics has a closed-system model for the economy, which operates simply as a series of “inflows” and “outflows” of money, closed off from everything else. This model puts the economy in isolation and treats it as a machine, governed by a simple and predictable set of inputs and outputs. In an open economic system, on the other hand, the economy is embedded within the environment and the planet itself. Here’s why the economy is an

The Assumption of Rational Behavior in Economics

What is rational behavior in economics? How accurate is this assumption that humans are inherently rational agents seeking to maximize their economic utility at the expense of everything else? In economics, human beings are seen as largely rational agents. The rational economic man cares only about increasing his material wealth and will always follow incentives to do so. According to Kate Raworth, this portrait of humankind is grossly inaccurate. In her book Doughnut Economics, she calls into question the power of extrinsic incentives in driving human behavior. Here’s why the assumption of rational behavior is ultimately flawed.

Kate Raworth: The Doughnut Model Explained

What is the doughnut model in economics? How has economic growth pushed us outside the doughnut? According to Kate Raworth, the author of Doughnut Economics, the goal of economic policy should be to stay within the inner ring of the metaphorical doughnut. This entails designing an economy that is productive enough to ensure that everyone on the planet has their basic material needs met, but that does not grow so fast as to deplete our natural resources and degrade the environment. Here’s what we can do to stay within the doughnut, according to Raworth.

Income Inequality: The 4 Potential Solutions

Can income inequality be solved? What can be done to bridge the global divide between the rich and the poor? Income inequality is a global problem—it plagues all countries to some extent. A small minority of the world’s population has amassed vast fortunes, while billions of people remain mired in extreme poverty. But hope remains. In her book Doughnut Economics, Kate Raworth proposes four income inequality solutions that can reduce the gap between the rich and the poor. Let’s take a look at Raworth’s solutions for income inequality.

Why a Regenerative Economy Is the Future

Is economic progress destroying the planet? How does the focus on economic growth deplete the planet’s resources? Most economies are inherently extractive and wasteful. If we continue at this rate, it’s only a matter of time until we reach a point of no return. To prevent this from happening, we need a top-to-bottom redesign of our global economic order: away from an extractive economy and toward a regenerative economy. Here’s why an economic revolution is in order, according to Kate Raworth.

Why Long-Term Economic Growth Isn’t Sustainable

Is economic growth destroying the planet? Can long-term economic growth be sustainable? According to Kate Raworth, we have pushed economic growth so far that some bad environmental outcomes may now be unavoidable. If we don’t act now, grave consequences are in order. Here’s how the overwhelming focus on growth endangers the health of our economy and the planet.

The Age of Automation: How Can We Adapt?

Does automation contribute to unemployment? How can we adapt to the world where most jobs are performed by technology? The age of automation is upon us. Already, many jobs that used to be performed by humans can be completed by robots, and this is only the beginning. To address the looming challenges of automation, we must build a people-centered economy. Keep reading to learn about the looming challenges increasing automation brings.

Kate Raworth: What Is Homo Economicus?

What is “homo economicus”? Does the assumption of homo economicus reflect an average economic agent? Economics, once focused on the study of the production of goods and services, has branched into psychology and now purports to explain the motivations and beliefs of the human beings who produce those goods and services. At the heart of the current economic theory is “homo economicus”—the idea that humans are rational beings making optimal economic choices in the light of perfect access to information. Here’s why the homo economicus model is ultimately flawed, according to Kate Raworth.

What Is the Key to Success in Trading?

Why do most people give up trading? Is trading really that hard as it’s made out to be? What does it take to become a successful trader? One of the keys to achieving success in trading is simply a matter of trading a lot. Provided you have a sound strategy, over time you’ll become more adept at reading market patterns and predicting what happens next with ever-increasing accuracy. Here’s how to achieve success in trading.

Kate Raworth: Challenging Economic Assumptions

What are the core economic assumptions? Do the current economic assumptions align with the ultimate goal of economics? According to Kate Raworth, economics has developed some core assumptions about human nature, what an economy exists to do, and what the social science of economics is meant to achieve. According to her, if the economy is to better serve humanity’s needs, these core assumptions need to change. Here’s why the traditional economic assumptions are flawed, according to Raworth.

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