The Economics of Happiness

Next in our sustainability series, hosted by the Library and the Lewisboro sustainability committee. Always something to learn and great discussion.

The Economics of Happiness offers not only a big-picture analysis of globalization, but a powerful message of hope for the future. The thinkers and activists we interviewed for the film come from every continent, and represent the interests of the great majority of people on the planet today. Their message is unambiguous: in order to respect and revitalize diversity, both cultural and biological, we need to localize economic activity. They argue that a systemic shift – away from globalizing economic activity and towards the local – is an almost magic formula that allows us to reduce our ecological footprint while increasing human well-being.

When people start connecting the dots between climate change, global economic instability and their own personal suffering – stress, loneliness, depression – there is the potential for a movement that will truly change the world. Featuring a wealth of diverse perspectives, the film illustrates these often hidden connections. We go beyond the narrow analysis of the mainstream to show that antagonism between human needs and the needs of nature is not inevitable.