Available online: https://pub.norden.org/nord2021-049/ The ambition of this report is to facilitate more clarity on what a Wellbeing Economy in essence is, what different shapes it can take, how it functions in practice, as well as its benefits and drawbacks.

Available online: https://pub.norden.org/nord2020-001/ Abstract [en] State of the Nordic Region 2020 gives you a unique look behind the scenes of the world’s most integrated region, comprised of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, along with the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland. The report presents a series of facts and figures showing the current state of play within core socioeconomic sectors, including demography, labour market and economy. In addition, you can read about wellbeing and energy pathways towards a carbon neutral Nordic Region. State of the Nordic Region 2020 is published by the Nordic Council of Ministers and produced by Nordregio, an international research center for regional development and planning established by the Nordic Council of Ministers.

Economic growth is a constant mantra of politicians, economists and the media. Few understand what it is, but they love and follow it blindly. The reality is that since the global financial crisis, growth has vanished in the more industrialised economies and in the so-called developing countries. Politicians may be panicking, but is this really a bad thing? Using real-life examples and innovative research, acclaimed political economist Lorenzo Fioramonti lays bare society’s perverse obsession with economic growth by showing its many flaws, paradoxes and inconsistencies. He argues that the pursuit of growth often results in more losses than gains and in damage, inequalities and conflicts. By breaking free from the growth mantra, we can build a better society that puts the wellbeing of all at its centre. A wellbeing economy would have tremendous impact on everything we do, boosting small businesses and empowering citizens as the collective leaders of tomorrow. Wellbeing Economy is a manifesto for radical change in South Africa and beyond.

Liberals worldwide invoke Scandinavia as a promised land of equality, while most conservatives fear it as a hotbed of liberty-threatening socialism. But the left and right can usually agree on one thing: that the Nordic system is impossible to replicate elsewhere. The US and UK are too big, or too individualistic, or too . . . something. In Viking Economics George Lakey dispels these myths. He explores the inner workings of the Nordic economies that boast the world’s happiest, most productive workers, and explains how we can enact some of the changes—including universal healthcare, affordable childcare, and a month of paid vacation for all—that the Scandinavians fought for surprisingly recently. We, too, can refuse to be governed by the elites and embrace equality in our economic policy—here’s how.

This book presents a detailed and critical discussion about how human wellbeing can be maintained and improved in a postgrowth era. It highlights the close links between economic growth, market capitalism, and the welfare state demonstrating that, in many ways, wellbeing outcomes currently depend on the growth paradigm. Here the authors argue that notions of basic human needs deserve greater emphasis in debates on postgrowth because they are more compatible with limits to growth. Drawing on theories of social practices, the book explores structural barriers to transitions to a postgrowth society, and ends with suggestions for policies and institutions that could support wellbeing in the context of postgrowth. This thought-provoking work makes a valuable contribution to debates surrounding climate change, sustainability, welfare states and inequality and will appeal to students and scholars of social policy, sociology, political science, economics, political ecology and human geography.

In the era of Industry 5.0, the world faces a critical juncture where technological advancement collides with escalating socio-environmental challenges. Climate change, energy consumption, and threats to public health are exacerbated by the rapid embrace of Industry 4.0 technologies. As businesses pursue efficiency, the compromise on human and social sustainability becomes inevitable. The need for a holistic approach to sustainable development is urgent, where economic growth aligns seamlessly with environmental, social, and human well-being. Eco-Innovation and Sustainable Development in Industry 5.0 serves as a guide in the pursuit of sustainable development within Industry 5.0. This book dissects the intricate challenges posed by socio-environmental issues and seamlessly offers a multidisciplinary approach to achieving sustainable development goals. The detrimental impact of Industry 4.0 on sustainable development necessitates the paradigm shift proposed within the book. Economic pursuits can no longer overshadow the crucial pillars of human, social, and environmental sustainability. The delicate balance required for a sustainable future is at risk, demanding a multidisciplinary approach to reconcile these seemingly conflicting objectives. This book is a call to action, to bridge the knowledge gap and provide tangible solutions for achieving sustainability in Industry 5.0.

The working group on Sustainable Consumption and Production, under the Nordic Council of Ministers requested consultants from Gaia to identify, write out and publish best practice cases of sustainable consumption and production on the UNEP SCP Clearinghouse. This report presents nineteen initiatives that cover two particular themes: 1) Sustainable Lifestyles and Education and 2) Sustainable Public Procurement. The cases have also been added into the UNEP's 10 Year Frame-work Program (10YFP) information platform, the SCP Clearinghouse which is a concrete result of Rio+20. The objective is to enhance international cooperation in order to accelerate a shift towards sustainable consumption and production in developed and developing countries. The SCP Clearinghouse is a web-based information sharing tool, which can be used by different actors as an inspiration for advancing SCP worldwide.

The creative and cultural industries (CCIs) have recently been debated widely, and access to finance has been at the forefront. This KreaNord report, created in 2012, maps the Nordic CCIs’ financial environment, and shows that the environment is facilitating the same access to corporate finance for CCIs as for other sectors. However, the supply of project finance requested by CCIs, is rare/non-existing, and mostly provided as debt. This report concludes the findings as market failure in supply of debt instruments for CCIs, and recommends a development process be initiated. Republished in 2015 following the end of KreaNord, the Nordic Council of Ministers’ initiative on cultural and creative industries (2008–2015).