Golden Rule Economics

This book addresses the crucial need for changes to capitalism, our mainstream system of economics, to support the necessities of a world facing countless ecological systems collapses, global climate change, and social inequity exacerbated by wealth disparity. 14 alternative economic systems are examined here with key recommendations taken from each to meet the deficiencies in our current system of economics. Of these alternative systems, however, compassionate economics, also known as Buddhist economics, is selected as the most promising alternative system meeting the prescribed needs of a an economic system that continues to create both wickedly complex and perverse problems for future generations. The term Golden Rule Economics encompasses compassionate economics benefits infused with certain "Golden Nuggets" from the other 13 economic systems studied. This prescribed fix to capitalism provides the inherent qualities of compassion, altruism, empathy, holism and encourages the treatment of people and natural systems with a strong sense of humanity. In short, Golden Rule Economics promises a new system of economics in which we treat others, as we wish to be treated ourselves.