Crisis Economics: Can Traditional Societies' Ideas Help Prevent A Depression?

Students will be able to name at least three ways that traditional economies are different from modern ones.  They will be able to identify examples and consequences of each difference.  They will also come up with at least one question about how a problem that is going on in our society now could be addressed more effectively by incorporating a traditional idea.

I have spent twenty years in the field of socially responsible finance, screening companies on their practices with regard to society and the environment, and engaging corporate leadership teams to encourage them to improve these practices.  This experience has brought me to a keen awareness of the nature of modern capitalism, both in terms of its power, dynamism, and creativity, and in terms of its many failings from a social and ecological point of view.  I have been fortunate to work with and read the philosophy of some indigenous leaders who, I believe, offer us a vision of a more sustainable way to order our societies.  It is important for our young people to be exposed to these ideas now, as they are our leaders of the not-too-distant future.

55 minutes per week in class, and maybe some time outside of class.