The Future of the Discretionary Economy 

Further to my post on How Things Are this post on Tim Watkins’s blog “The Consciousness of Sheep” explains why discretionary doings are declining. … hospitality sector trade bodies are calling for nothing short of root and branch reform of the taxes and costs levied on them.  In particular, the outdated business rates system – …

How Things Are

My current view of the UK economy. It is based on Tim Morgan’s explanation of how the UK economy works.  Think of the formal economy as employed people undertaking discretionary and essential activities in a system where discretionary activities are declining. Discretionary activities are becoming increasingly unaffordable because the energy cost of obtaining energy is …

Homelessness in the UK: An Aspect of the Transition to Localism

Homelessness has increasingly become a pressing issue in the UK, with visible impacts in urban centers and smaller communities alike. In cities, where thousands pass through train stations, shopping centers, and landmarks each day, the homeless population is more visible. But behind the scenes, there’s a hidden and worsening crisis. The YouTube video link offers …

From Economic Growth to Regenerative Growth: Reimagining Progress to Save Our World

For centuries, economic growth has been a cornerstone of human advancement. Industrialisation, urbanisation, and technological leaps have all promised to increase prosperity, improve lives, and shape a better world. But today, we are coming face-to-face with the unintended consequences of unchecked economic growth: environmental degradation, alarming inequality, and an economic system stretched to the breaking …

The Future of the Discretionary Economy  

The latest post on Tim Watkins excellent  blog The Consciousness of Sheep is very relevant at the present time. … hospitality sector trade bodies are calling for nothing short of root and branch reform of the taxes and costs levied on them.  In particular, the outdated business rates system – which taxes businesses on the …

Budgeting for a Shrinking Energy Future: Implications of Art Berman’s Analysis for the UK’s Growth-Based Strategy

As the UK government prepares its upcoming budget with a focus on economic growth, energy expert Art Berman’s recent blog post, “This is How Oil Ends,” raises critical questions about the long-term viability of growth-oriented economic policies. Berman’s insights on the decline of the oil industry suggest that the traditional growth model may be increasingly …

The UK’s Housing Crisis: Declining Prosperity, Climate Change, Immigration, and the Need for Sustainable Housing Design

The UK is grappling with a deepening housing crisis driven by declining prosperity, increasing immigration, the effects of climate change, and an ageing population. The convergence of these factors puts immense pressure on housing supply and demand, making it harder to afford homes while existing properties fall into disrepair. To tackle this challenge, future housing …

Bringing Hardy’s “The Woodlanders” into a World of Declining Fossil Fuels and Renewable Energy

I asked ChatGPT to update Thomas Hardy’s view of woodland life. This could be seen as the imagination of a stage in the transition into the post-grown future—or maybe where it ends. In Thomas Hardy’s The Woodlanders (1887), the rural landscape of Little Hintock is a world bound by nature and the rhythms of agricultural …

Road Pricing to raise revenue and be compatible with Localism

ROAD PRICING: The Economic and Technical PossibilitiesReport of a Panel set up by theMinistry of TransportLONDON1964 FOREWORD by Dr. R. J. Smeed, Road Research Laboratory Economists have claimed that considerable net benefits could accrue to the nation if vehicle owners had to pay higher charges or taxes when they used congested roads than when they …

The Path to Happiness

Focusing on Quality Over Quantity Will Change Our Lives In today’s world, it often feels like we’re all running a never-ending race.  We’re told to work harder, earn more money, buy more stuff, and always be on the lookout for the next big thing.  This is what most of us know as “materialism”—the idea that …

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