Sustainable Capitalism and the Pursuit of Well-Being

According to conventional wisdom, we need to change the system to change behaviours. This book argues that changing behaviours will change the system, with potential for positive feedback on behaviour. It starts by questioning the received wisdom that we know what makes us happy and shows that environmental sustainability comes from each of us knowing what's truly good for ourselves. Because the pursuit of well-being will reduce material consumption, it considers how that redefinition of self-interest may happen and assesses the effects of this change on the capitalist system itself.

List of contents

1.The Path of Sustainability 2.The Failure of Authority and Altruism 3.The Complexity of Sustainable Development 4.Consuming Unhappiness 5.Happiness, Well-Being, and Sustainability 6.Needs and Wants 7.Leveraging Wants 8.Changing the Social Paradigm 9.Adapting to Sustainable Capitalism 10.Sustainable Systems

About the author

Neil E. Harrison is a senior research fellow and executive director of the Sustainable Development Institute and a research associate in the Joseph Korbel Graduate School of International Studies at the University of Denver.

Product details

• Authors: Neil Harrison, Neil (Sustainable Development Institute Harrison
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 23.12.2013
• EAN: 9780415662819
• ISBN: 978-0-415-66281-9
• No. of pages: 216
• Series: Routledge Studies in Sustainable Development
• Subjects: Social sciences, law, business > Business > Miscellaneous; BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Development / Sustainable Development, NATURE / Ecology, POLITICAL SCIENCE / Public Policy / Environmental Policy, BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Environmental Economics, BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Development / Economic Development, Politics & government, Environmental Economics, environmental science, engineering & technology, Politics and government, Development Studies, Environmental science, engineering and technology