Schumacher Center for a New Economics

The Schumacher Center for a New Economics
Formation 1 January 1980 (1980-01-01)
Founder Susan Witt, Robert Swann
Type Economics
Legal status 501(c) organization
Purpose Research and application of alternative economics
Location
  • 140 Jug End Road, Great Barrington, MA 01230
Website http://www.centerforneweconomics.org/
Formerly called
 E F Schumacher Society

The Schumacher Center for a New Economics (formerly the E. F. Schumacher Society) is a tax exempt nonprofit organization based in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.[1]

The Schumacher Center promotes the 'new economy', which includes the concepts buy local, local currency and self-sufficiency.[2][3][4][5] The Schumacher Center aims to combine theoretical research with practical application at the local, regional, national, and international levels. Further, the use of transformative systems and clear communication are part of its principles.

History

E F Schumacher Society

The Schumacher Center was founded as the E.F. Schumacher Society in 1980 by Robert Swann and Susan Witt.[6]:111–112

Its aim was to preserve Schumacher's personal library and continue his work, which focused on developing and promoting regional, sustainable and socially just economics.[7] To further its aims the organization began hosting annual lectures in 1981.

A library was established in 1990 as a research center for alternative economics. In 1994, E F Schumacher's personal library and archives were donated to it.[7][8]

Rename and New Economy Coalition

In 2010, the E.F. Schumacher Society became the Schumacher Center for a New Economics. At this time a new organization was formed with the New Economics Foundation called the New Economics Institute.[9] In 2013 the New Economics Institute merged with the New Economy Network to form the New Economy Coalition.[10]

Projects

Schumacher Library

A library was established in 1990 as a research center for alternative economics. In 1994 Vreni Schumacher donated Fritz's personal library and archives. The library has about fifteen thousand books. The library building is 2,000 square foot, located on the side of Jug End Mountain in the Berkshire region of Massachusetts. Topics covered by the library include worker ownership, community supported agriculture, local currencies, the commons, and appropriate technology. Its catalogue is searchable online.[7][8]

Local Currencies

The center has resources about local currencies and helped set up the BerkShare.[11][12] It maintains a list of active local currencies in the United States.[13] In 2004 it held the Local Currencies in the 21st Century conference which as reported by the Utne Reader.[14] In September 2013 Alice Maggio, the Schumacher Center's Local Currency Program Director, was interviewed for PBS's News Hour program.[15]

BerkShares

Main article: BerkShares

BerkShares is a local currency in Berkshire region of Massachusetts. In 2007 over eight hundred thousand BerkShares where in circulation.[11][12] The program promotes collaboration among producers, retail businesses, non-profit organizations, service providers and consumers. Additionally, it is design to increase public awareness of the importance of the local economy and self-sufficiency. The New York Times referred to the BerkShares program as a "great socioeconomic experiment."[16]

SHARE Micro-credit Program

The Self-Help Association for a Regional Economy (SHARE) is a model community-based nonprofit that offers a simple way for citizens to create a sustainable local economy by supporting businesses that provide products or services needed in the region.[17] SHARE makes micro-credit loans available at manageable interest rates to businesses that are often considered "high risk" by traditional lenders—usually because of their credit ratings or the unique nature of their business ideas. Local SHARE members make interest-earning deposits in a local bank, which are used to collateralize loans for local businesses with a positive community impact. SHARE depositors live in the same community as the business owners they support—bringing a human face back to lending decisions. The SHARE program of the Southern Berkshire region existed from 1981 to 1992, and collateralized 23 loans with a 100% rate of repayment.[18][19]

Community Land Trusts

Robert Swann, founder of the E.F. Schumacher Society, is known as a pioneer of the community land trust movement. The E.F. Schumacher Society provided technical assistance towards the formation of the Community Land Trust in the Southern Berkshires in 1980.[20]

E.F. Schumacher Lectures

From 1981 to 2012, the E.F. Schumacher Society hosted an annual lecture in honor of E.F. Schumacher. The Lectures continue to be hosted by the Schumacher Center for New Economics. The E.F. Schumacher Lectures capture some of the most visionary voices regarding the urgent need to transform our economic, social, and cultural systems in a way that supports both the planet and its citizens.[21] Past presenters include:

In 1997, Yale University Press published People, Land, and Community a collection of the annual lectures.[22] According to the magazine Kirkus Reviews, the book "address(es) Schumacher's call for small-scale economies and policies." [23]

Criticism

In August 2011 the National Catholic Register criticized the society for under playing the influence of the Catholic church on Schumacher, in particular Paul VI's Humanae Vitae.[24]

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://centerforneweconomics.org/content/tax-exempt-status
  2. ↑ "Buying Local: How It Boosts the Economy". Time Magazine.
  3. ↑ Emily Lambert, Emily. "Funny Money". Forbes. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  4. ↑ Angel, Karen. "To Shop Locally or Not to Shop Locally? That Is the Question". Huffington Post. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  5. ↑ Bingham, G. Benjamin. "One Whole or Many Holes: Can Money Be Part of a Holistic System?". Huffington Post. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  6. ↑ Mills, Stephanie (2010). On Gandhi's Path. Gabriola Island, BC, Canada: New Society Publishers. pp. 111–112. ISBN 9780865716155.
  7. 1 2 3 Townes, John. "Interview: "Small is Beautiful"". Berkshire Trade and Commerce. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  8. 1 2 "SCHUMACHER CENTER LIBRARY". Online public access catalog. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  9. ↑ "A Briefing on the New Economics Institute". Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  10. ↑ "Executive Director, New Economy Coalition". Third Sector New England. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  11. 1 2 Scott Malone, Scott. "New age town embraces dollar alternative". Reuters. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  12. 1 2 Schwartz, Judith D. "Alternative Currencies Grow in Popularity". Time Magazine. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  13. ↑ Bundrick, Hal M. "Ditching the Dollar: The Rise of Local Currency". TheStreet.com. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  14. ↑ Stonington, Joel. "Local Currencies Aren't Small Change". Utne Reader. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  15. ↑ "What’s Minted in Berkshire County Stays There: Finding Reward in Local Currency". PBS. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  16. ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/25/us/25land.html?_r=0
  17. ↑ Henderson, Hazel (2006). Ethical Markets: Growing the Green Economy. White River Junction, VT, USA: Chelsea Green Publishing. pp. 52–53. ISBN 9781933392233.
  18. ↑ http://centerforneweconomics.org/content/introduction-share
  19. ↑ Golden, Jeff. "3 Ways to Invest in Your Community". Yes!. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  20. ↑ McFadden, Steven. "The History of Community Supported Agriculture, Part I". Rodale Institute. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  21. ↑ "Schumacher Center for New Economics Publications". Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  22. ↑ "People, Land, and Community Collected E. F. Schumacher Society Lectures". Yale University Press. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  23. ↑ Book Review: People, Land and Community: Collected EF Schumacher Society Lectures, Kirkus Reviews, June 30, 1997 (via Yes! magazine)
  24. ↑ PEARCE, Joseph. "The Vision of E.F. Schumacher". National Catholic Register. Retrieved 23 February 2015.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Wednesday, September 16, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.