Economics and the economy: A story with no content!
Our lives are dominated by news about the 'economy'. But there is really very little content in it. Reporting is driven by numerical indicators: economic growth rates; employment rates; house prices; public debt...and so on.
None of this reporting offers any insight into the lives of ordinary people and it provides nothing to answer questions about the continuing failure to address climate change and its consequences; the loss of biodiversity; the immense creation of waste; homelessness...
It never asks questions such as: What is the economy for? What do economist do? Why was nothing done to reform the financial sector after the 2007/2008 crisis?
Economic illiteracy is widespread, with the view that 'economics is too difficult for ordinary people'. But the explanations offered by the media and by politicians are often faulty, superficial, dependent on half-truths, half remembered from a school or college level course taken in the past.
Over five fortnightly sessions, this series of conversations, Demystifying and Reimagining Economics will explore the present state of economics and suggest some alternatives.
The facilitator is Tony Weekes, retired academic economist. Tony has been sharing his knowledge and perspective for several years in Dublin through the Maynooth Commun iversity programme and has also been opening up conversations on economics with community groups in Derry, Belfast and Omeath.
For further infromation please contact Marian at
collaborationforchange@gmail.com
This event is co-hosted by
Rostrevor Action respecting the Environment RARE
https://www.facebook.com/RostrevorRARE/
and
Collaboration for Change
www.cfctogether.org
The sessions are free. There will be a donation jar for participants to contribute if they can to venue and hospitality costs.
