Author: Fresh-up

Jul 23

#fitforfuture?

Socio-economic education on inequality and the climate crisis

Under this title, the Vienna University of Economics and Business invited to a public event at the Volkshochschule Wiener Urania on 14th June 2022 to introduce the learning platform to a wider public and to practise socio-economic education. Reference was given to the observation that the climate crisis challenges not only the way societies shape their economies, but also what and how we learn about the economies.

Thanks to the cooperation with the Adult Education Centre, adult educators, one of the target groups, were also present. They could get into the topic by getting to know the method of “economic speed dating” right at the beginning. What is behind this? Quite simple: When music is played, the participants move around the room (regardless of the number of participants). When the music stops, they start a conversation with the person standing next to them. The trainer asks the questions.

This interactive prelude was followed by a thematic impulse on “Sustainable Economies” and later on by two exercises, which in turn invited event visitors to “learning by participating”: One was a discussion on possible measures to reduce social and environmental inequality. The other involved “freewriting” about facets of a sustainable society. By this, the focus was not only on analysing problem areas. Ideas were also asked for and thus acknowledging that overcoming all the challenges is a (learning) task for society as a whole. Thus attuned to thinking about socio-economic issues, the learning platform was presented to the audience as the “culmination” of the evening.

Over snacks and drinks, the participants continued their discussions in smaller groups.

Jul 22

It’s the Money, stupid!

weltgewandt e.V. invited together with the public library Wolfdietrich Schnurre an event to launch the learning platform on Economic Literacy in Europe in Berlin on 19th May 2022. The seats were all taken as four colleagues presented their courses on Modern Monetary Theory, Strategies to Manage a Crises, Introduction to Feminist Economics and Economy and Climate for discussion. In times of burgeoning inflation, the course on Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) in particular provoked questions from the audience. Is it appropriate for a government to spend money and create jobs even if government revenues are not too high? Can spending money lead to inflation? No, it cannot, say representatives of MMT. Why? The best way to find out is to read the course.

Following this, money was also the focus of interest. Attention now turned to the question of its digitalisation and that is, according to plans of the European Central Bank to introduce a Digital Euro. What consequences will this have for citizens? What is likely to be a curse and what a blessing?

Guests were invited who discuss different positions on the topic: Dirk Schrade from the Deutsche Bundesbank (as part of the System of European Central Banks), Dr. Norbert Häring, journalist and book author, and Dr. Dirk Ehnts, board spokesman of the Pufendorf Society. The latter questioned the economic necessity of a digital euro – that is, of “electronic cash”. Digital payment has long been common practice and works well, he said. “We have the solution, but we don’t know what the problem is” – to which the digital euro should provide the answer.

Dirk Schrade referred to the reasons for the intended introduction: a) technical developments because less cash would be used especially in some countries and b) currency competition. He was referring to the Libra, now Diem project by Facebook (today Meta). Its worldwide implementation would have affected the power of central banks in favour of large corporations. Dr. Norbert Häring, on the other hand, warned against the abolition of cash and the associated loss of privacy. He pointed to the danger that a digital euro could go hand in hand with the introduction of a social credit system on the Chinese model. Corresponding pilot projects are already being implemented in Bologna, Rome, Vienna and Bavaria, he said.

“Democracy must be defended,” meant Dirk Schrader and emphasised that much depends on how a digital euro is designed.

Afterwards, the audience discussed this and other questions with the speakers and with each other over summer rolls, pretzels and drinks.

May 15

We present the learning platform in Berlin

The colleagues from the project consortium come together again and present the result of its collaboration, a platform on socio-economic learning. The event starts in a public library in Berlin at 18 o’clock on 19th May 2022. Explanations on the project and parts of the platform will lead to a so-called Economic Speed Dating to bring the audience in contact.

After that, a discussion takes place a current economic topic. Under the title “The Digital Euro: Curse or Blessing?“, Dirk Schrade, Deputy Director General, Payments and Settlement Systems, Deutsche Bundesbank, Dr. Norbert Häring, Handelsblatt and Dr. Dirk Ehnts, Pufendorf Society, will debate the plans to set up a digital central bank account for all citizens. What consequences might citizens expect from that? Will this promote the abolition of cash? Would this be a cause for concern, since ‘smart’ payment only facilitates payment transactions? But what is money? How is it created? And what is the role of the central bank in an economy? How can an “update” of democracy succeed – in times of the digitalisation of money?

The event at a glance

18.00 – 18.30 Presentation of the learning platform

18.30 – 19.00 “Economic speed dating”

19.00 – 20.30 Panel discussion with audience participation: The Digital Euro: Curse or Blessing?

20.30 – 21.30 Culinary snacks to round off the evening

Venue: Wolfdietrich-Schnurre-Bibliothek, Bizetstr. 41, 13088 Berlin-Weißensee, 3rd floor, tram M4, M 13, 12 stop “Antonplatz” (15 minutes from Alexanderplatz)

Time: Thursday, 19.05. 2022, 6-21.30 p.m.

Admission is free.

An event by weltgewandt. Institute for Intercultural Political Education in cooperation with the Wolfdietrich Schnurre Library, funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union.

Mar 03

Not a mystery: Workshop on …

… basic socio-economic education in Lublin/Poland

Social inequality, ecology, climate, housing, health, gender justice, etc. – almost everything has an economic dimension. You don’t have to have a higher education to understand such connections. This is exactly the approach of our cooperation of colleagues from seven European countries. They met from 22nd to 26th February 2022 for a five-day workshop at the WSEI University in Lublin/Poland to discuss socio-economic topics and to test methods for Economic Literacy in adult education.

One session started with an “economic speed dating” about social inequality. What connection do the participants see between inequality and self-confidence, what connections between inequality and climate change or health? In a subsequent input could the colleagues learn definitions of inequality, aspects of the history of global inequality, today’s income and wealth inequality between countries, and more. The different ways in which societies contribute to CO2 emissions and thus to global warming were also discussed.

Then curiosity and intuition were asked for as participants explored the environment, considering these questions: “Where can you perceive inequality?”, “Who is the infrastructure (not) built for?”, “What role does money play?”, “Where around you might there be inequality that you cannot see?”.

The exchange about the explorations afterwards moved on to discussing measures to minimise inequality. After all, the division into rich and poor, healthy and non-healthy, impaired – non-impaired etc. is not just a moral problem that comes with humiliation for those affected. It is a macroeconomic problem that affects the whole society. Economies miss their potential and resources are wasted.

In the course of the week, a whole bouquet of topics and methods was gathered to develop educational materials for the common learning platform. The focus was also on issues of growth and sustainability, taxation, different schools of economics, migration, feminist economics and the further digitalisation of money.

After the experience of an online workshop in November 2020, the project group had opted for a hybrid event this time. Thus, participants from four partner organisations in Lublin and colleagues from Barcelona, Dublin and Tartu (Estonia) were present on screen. This enabled a much more intensive, inspiring learning experience.

Feedback from one participant: “Now I have an idea of a European cooperation. An ecxiting and very fruitful experience.“

Dec 02

Delicate topics: Taxes and Migration

Online discussion: „Tax is a crucial part of the story of injustice in the world. Unfortunately, many people hear the word tax and recoil – it seems dense, boring and perhaps a topic best left to the ‘experts’! This guide will help you as a facilitator understand just what tax is, why it is so important, what global trends threaten fair tax collection, and what might be done to help solve tax injustice globally.“ This is how the Irish colleague’s contribution to the learning platform begins. We discussed it in the project group of colleagues from Austria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Poland, Spain and Germany. We all agreed: This article makes us want to deal with the topic!

Migration is a complex phenomenon. It affects societies in different ways, be they receiving countries or those from which people leave. When the well-educated go abroad, gaps remain. The receiving country, in turn, benefits. Education costs can be saved and the population structure can be maintained if young, qualified people come. Wages do not have to rise because there are more workers. But what if people do not come voluntarily, when they need to flee war and hardship? What if they are older and their qualifications are not recognised? How differently are people affected by migration: the individuals themselves, the companies, the citizens? The contribution of the Polish colleague from the WSEI University in Lublin stimulated discussion. This is exactly what we want to achieve.

Nov 05

Feminist Economics and Ecological Growth

They are like a „conversation salon“ as we know it from the age of enlightenment. Our regular online meetings. This time, the Czech and Estonian colleagues presented their contributions to the learning platform. Feminist economics is seen in contrast to the neoclassical school of economics. The difference in the view of human beings is particularly striking. Neoclassical economists start from the assumption of “homo economicus“, who always makes rational decisions, is free of any social influence, pursues his interests and has unlimited needs. Feminist economists, on the other hand, assume that human beings are relational ones who are shaped by various influences such as gender, age, social status, values, and so on. Accordingly, people’s decisions would be influenced by various factors – if only because of unequal starting points.

Economic growth and sustainability – is that possible? What is it about “green growth”, “de-growth” or “social limits to growth”? And what does “decoupling” mean? What are the different approaches to sustainability? A topic that can provoke lively debates. The colleagues brought their knowledge to the table. For example, the reference to the growth dilemma or to a socially acceptable, sustainable “degrowth” of economic development.

Time and again, methodological questions came up: Are the statements clear enough and easy to grasp? Does clarity come at the expense of complexity? How can both be combined in a meaningful way – if only to enable a diversity of perspectives? But without confusing?

Not exactly in a dignified salon atmosphere, but it was a cultivated exchange this time too, factual, carried by respect and the interest in learning new things.

Oct 08

Inequality and economic „schools“

Inequality, what’s this? And what different economic „schools“ exist? This was the subject of our most recent online meeting as part of our cooperation on 7th October 2021. Two further contributions to our learning platform were discussed. The Austrian colleagues presented a socio-economic understanding of inequality that goes beyond the usual interpretation of income inequality and also takes into account, for example, the global inequality in the consumption of CO2. They emphasised that inequality is not a „natural“ given, but is produced by society and its power relations. It is expected that inequality will continue to increase. What kind of welfare state would therefore be needed to enable a good life for all? How can be ensured that the discussion of inequality also refers to the big issues such as climate change, digitalisation (platform economy, etc.), migration, the future of pensions?

The „economy“ is often associated with a certain way of looking at it. But far from it. Embedded in historical contexts and along the different understandings of work, the colleague from the Spanish partner organisation went into ideas from Smith, Ricardo, Marx, Keynes and more recent authors. As so often this year, this was a stimulating meeting – next year then as a ‚real‘ encounter.

Mar 25

Growth and development

Co-Working. We meet each other online regularly. On 24th March again. Colleagues of organisations from seven European countries planned their activities. Re-planed, re-planed, re-planed. Fortunately, there was also time for content. For example, the question of the connection between economic growth and environmental development. What kind of growth do we need? And what can happen in an economic system without (economic) growth? What transformation can there be towards a truly ecological economy? We enjoyed an intensive exchange and once again a great atmosphere in the group.

Nov 29

The Estonian Economy: Growth by 4.5 per cent in 2021

According to the economic forecast of the Ministry of Finance, the bottom of the crisis has been overcome and economic recovery can be expected from next year.

The economic impact of the COVID-19 outbreak in Estonia and Northern Europe will be smaller than the EU average. The impact of the crisis has been very unevenly distributed between different sectors of the Estonian economy.

More information: https://www.rahandusministeerium.ee/en/news/estonian-economy-forecast-grow-45-cent-2021

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

Nov 29

COVID-19 footprint in small countries

The COVID-19 footprint in small countries is of strong influence.
The information technology and communication sector was the least hit by the first wave of the coronavirus in spring, while accommodation providers, caterers and travel agents found themselves in the most difficult situation.
During the wintertime now, Estonia is entering the second wave in a vulnerable position. The most suffering sectors are responsible for 14 percent of the added value and employ every fifth worker in Estonia.

More information: https://news.err.ee/1159305/foresight-center-estonian-economy-vulnerable-in-covid-19-second-wave

Photo by CDC on Unsplash