What to Expect from our Economic Design Dimension

The revised version of the Economic Design dimension of Gaia Education’s Design for Sustainability course is among the most comprehensive and in depth online course on the emerging paradigm of regenerative economics.

This updated version (2016) builds upon the work of Jonathan Dawson, now Head of Economics of Transition at Schumacher College, and has been revised and expanded significantly by the new principal co-author Daniel Christian Wahl (Gaia Education). It includes all the exciting recent developments in complementary currencies, new economic indicators, the circular economy, the collaborative and solidarity economy, the global commons, the creation of regenerative enterprises, open-source and peer-to-peer innovation, collaborative consumption, and the pioneering work of the Alliance for Localization and local living economy networks like BALLE to create resilience and thriving communities by revitalising local and regional economics through social enterprises and cooperatives that innovate in the field of local production for local consumption, while strengthening community cohesion and the core-economy that generates true wellbeing through shared abundance.

Among the many other resources, practical tools and replicable models you will be introduced to are:

• a wide range of different complementary currency types and their tested applications;
• an in depth analysis of what is structurally dysfunctional about the current economic and monetary system and of the leverage points for systemic change;
• a variety of ‘business model canvas’ methodologies that allow you do design and specify the appropriate business model for whatever social enterprise, cooperative, or for-benefit business you may want to create;
• advice on how to write a business plan, seek funding, network more efficiently, and how to choose the appropriate legal and ownership structure for your venture;
• familiarity with the ‘regenerative enterprise’ framework and a wide range of examples of regenerative social enterprises around the world;
• a diversity of examples and useful strategies for whole systems design of networked enterprise ecologies that mutually support each other in co-creating thriving local and regional economies.

The new version of the course has been updated with new illustrations, informative graphics, a wide diversity of links to useful institutions and resources, as well as many supportive short videos, animations, presentations and documentaries.
The material is presented in an easily accessible and well structured manner and allows you to chose when and where you study. The support of and collaboration with your fellow students and the knowledgable guidance of your course tutor will make this a very effective and enjoyable learning experience.
Whether you want to simply be a more informed citizen or a more effective local-global agent of change, social entrepreneur, engaged civil servant, or effective advocate and educator, this course will help you not only to criticise the existing system based on evidence and in depth analysis, but more importantly offer more effective, resilient and regenerative alternatives to business as usual.

Come to the Economic Design course and join us in informing, enabling, and inspiring the transition towards regenerative economies at the local, regional and global scale!