progressive economics

What are the game changers?

For those involved in social change work, these days can be frustrating ones. Just as the neoliberal order of tax cuts, deregulation, resource extraction and free trade seems to be maxed out, like the Energizer bunny it keeps coming back. Meanwhile, progressive forces (academics, unions, NGOs and political parties) can give a good fight from time to time, but overall are as fragmented as ever.

So how do we move ahead to create a movement for change that will excite people about the world that could be, and put our ruling class on the defensive? For starters, we need to better focus our energies on articulating a vision and some clear highly strategic "game changing" steps towards that vision.

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economy democracy social movement progressive politics Canadian economy progressive economics

Alternative Federal Budget 2013: Doing better together

David Macdonald Armine Yalnizyan

| March 14, 2013

These are the remarks by David MacDonald and I prepared for the press conference marking the release of the AFB 2013 in Ottawa, March 12, 2013.

Time flies and our Alternative Federal Budget is now in its 19th year. Year after year it has shown that we can have a Canada where we all do better together.

This year the AFB is more inclusive than ever with 27 chapters written by over 90 contributors each laying out progressive policy ideas ready for implementation. All policy proposals are fully costed and put within a realistic macro-economic framework to determine their impact on the deficit, debt and employment.

Fairness by design: A framework for tax reform in Canada

Iglika Ivanova

| February 15, 2013

A new CCPA report by Marc Lee and myself argues that Canada's tax system needs a "fairness" overhaul and presents a framework for progressive tax reform. Those of you who have been following our tax work so far will find this study a great complement to the BC Tax Options Paper.

David Fairey on the history of the Trade Union Research Bureau

Jim Stanford David Fairey

| January 22, 2013

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Best progressive economics books of 2012

Andrew Jackson

| January 11, 2013

Here are, in no particular order, my picks for the four best books of 2012 from a progressive economics perspective.

Columnists

Ontario Nurses Association study on macroeconomic side effects of austerity

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The Ontario Nurses Association has been publishing some awesome economic analysis over the last couple of years, highlighting the talents of their new economist and PEF member Salimah Valiani. Apart from a strong analytical and quantitative approach, ONA's recent research has been very refreshing in the emphasis it has placed on gender analysis and the unique features of caring labour.

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Austerity caring labour gender analysis labour ontario nurses' association progressive economics

Columnists

Embodying the values of a new progressive economy

A decade ago, the liberation theologian Frei Betto and the ecosocialist Michael Löwy wrote an article for the 2002 World Social Forum titled "Values for a New Civilization." They pointed out that the current neoliberal order is essentially dominated by a religion of profit: this system of beliefs has its churches (the stock markets), its Holy Offices (the World Trade Organization, International Monetary Fund and World Bank), its theologian (Adam Smith), a vast clergy (orthodox economists) that defends its principles, and a variety of instruments to persecute its heretics (all th

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Capitalism neoliberalism profit progressive economics solidarity

De-growth or growth? Maybe we don't need to figure that out

Seth Klein

| May 17, 2012

There has recently been a renewed interest in the question of whether the ecological crisis means we need to see (or plan for) a stabilization or even a decline in economic growth. This week there is a major conference on degrowth in Montreal. York University's Peter Victor has made important contributions to this debate in his book Managing Without Growth, as has Tim Jackson in his report for the U.K.'s Sustainable Development Commission entitled Prosperity Without Growth?. There is a burgeoning literature on this topic.

Columnists

If You Could Change One Thing: Developing policy for progressive change

I had a great change of pace last week, when I stayed out at the CAW Family Education Centre at Port Elgin to teach a 5-day course on "Economics for Trade Unionists" through the CAW's Paid Educational Leave program.

While I have guest lectured many times at Port Elgin, I have never actually taught a course there, so this was a great opportunity for me to experience first-hand how our PEL system trains and inspires hundreds of rank-and-file union activists and local leaders every year, through a wide range of peer-taught courses. The Centre was bursting at the seams with about 250 students in a range of courses -- including toxic substances, pride, collective bargaining, and training to be women's advocates.

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Economics unions social change caw economic policy progressive economics social policy

Challenging capitalism: A 12-step program

Marc Lee

| November 18, 2011

Over a year ago, I posted "What are the game changers?", an attempt at sparking some strategic thinking for the broader left. Now that we've had a month of Occupation, building on the original Occupy Wall Street action, I've been wanting to put these ideas back on the table, so below I recycle much of that post and update it, plus adding some links for further reading.

progressive economics

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