Doughnut Economics: Balancing Needs and Planet

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Questions and Answers

What does the 'hole in the middle' of the donut represent in the speaker's analogy?

  • A state of ecological balance and sustainability.
  • A shortfall in resources required to meet life's basic needs. (correct)
  • The planet's natural resources available for human use.
  • The excess resources consumed by developed nations.

What characterizes the 'outer crust' of the donut in the speaker's analogy?

  • The limit of resource extraction that ensures future availability.
  • The boundary within which all human activities should occur.
  • The ideal level of global economic growth.
  • The state of exceeding planetary boundaries, leading to ecological damage. (correct)

Which of the following best describes 'ecological overshoot'?

  • When humanity's demand on Earth's resources exceeds its capacity to regenerate them. (correct)
  • The point at which renewable energy sources surpass fossil fuel consumption.
  • The surplus of food production in developed countries leading to waste.
  • The technological advancements that allow humans to live more sustainably.

According to the speaker, what are the two critical objectives for human well-being in the 21st century?

<p>Poverty reduction and protection of Earth’s fundamental life-supporting systems. (C)</p>
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Why does the speaker argue that a re-evaluation of economics is necessary?

<p>Because traditional economics does not address the dual challenge of poverty eradication within ecological limits. (C)</p>
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Which scenario aligns with the speaker's concept of living within the 'donut'?

<p>A community reduces its carbon footprint while ensuring everyone has access to education, healthcare, and nutritious food. (B)</p>
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What is the core challenge of the 21st century, according to the speaker?

<p>Eradicating poverty while remaining within ecological limits. (D)</p>
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Which action would directly contribute to moving people from the 'hole in the middle' of the donut into the donut itself, according to the speaker's model?

<p>Increasing access to education, healthcare, and nutritious food for marginalized communities. (A)</p>
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Which of the following pressures on the planet contributes to ecological overshoot?

<p>Widespread deforestation and habitat destruction. (B)</p>
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According to the speaker, what is a fundamental change needed in our approach to economics?

<p>An integration of ecological limits and social well-being into economic thinking. (C)</p>
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Flashcards

The Donut Hole

Represents a shortfall in resources required to meet life's essentials, such as food, education, and housing.

Ecological Overshoot

Represents when humanity exerts more pressure on the planet than it can sustain, leading to environmental issues.

21st-Century Challenge

To eradicate poverty by bringing people into the donut while remaining within ecological limits.

Two Sides of Human Well-Being

Reducing poverty and safeguarding Earth’s fundamental life-supporting systems.

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Study Notes

  • A few years ago, the speaker drew a picture representing the world they want to live in, and it resembled a donut.
  • The donut has an outer part and a hole in the middle.
  • The hole in the middle of the donut represents a space of deprivation, signifying a shortfall in resources required to meet life's essentials.
  • People in the hole lack adequate food, education, electricity access, income, and decent housing.
  • The goal is to elevate people from this state of deprivation into the donut itself.
  • Simultaneously, the speaker wants to ensure that the world doesn't exceed the donut's outer crust.
  • The outer crust represents the space of ecological overshoot.
  • Ecological overshoot occurs when humanity exerts more pressure on the planet than it can sustain.
  • This pressure leads to climate change, biodiversity loss, ozone layer depletion, and chemical pollution.
  • It's essential to both reduce poverty and safeguard Earth's fundamental life-supporting systems.
  • These two objectives, poverty reduction and Earth's protection, represent the two sides of human well-being.
  • The 21st-century challenge is to eradicate poverty while remaining within ecological limits; this has never been attempted before.
  • This challenge necessitates a re-evaluation of economics.
  • This is due to the entirely new perspective on human well-being that it entails.

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