The Alternative: How to Build a Just Economy – A Book Talk with Nick Romeo

1h 0m · Opportunity in America - Events by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program · 26 Jan 16:56

As the world continues to confront inhumane levels of poverty, widening inequality, and environmental degradation, a growing number of individuals, including academics, business owners, and policy entrepreneurs, are calling for a new moral economy. These leaders are rejecting the conventional economic myths that free markets are more efficient and that enormous inequalities are unavoidable; instead, they’re embracing ethical and socially responsible economic models that prioritize moral action and accountability.

In his new book, “The Alternative: How to Build a Just Economy,” author and academic Nick Romeo explores this paradigm shift in economic thinking, challenging prevailing notions perpetuated by some economists and business leaders. He shares compelling stories of these new innovative approaches, including businesses organized as purpose trusts, venture capital funds addressing wealth inequality and climate change, Oslo’s successful climate budgeting program, Portugal’s democratic budget decisions, worker-owned cooperatives fostering innovation, and public-sector initiatives providing protections for gig workers. “The Alternative” presents a vision of economies that are more equal, just, and livable, showcasing real-world examples of success. Ultimately, it challenges the prevailing narrative and offers a glimpse into a viable alternative economic system.

In this conversation — which took place on January 24, 2024 — we hear Nick Romeo and moderator Maureen Conway (Vice President, The Aspen Institute; Executive Director, Economic Opportunities Program) discuss his new book and invite guests to imagine what a more humane economy could be.

For more information about this event — including video, audio, photos, speaker bios, and additional resources — visit: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/the-alternative-how-to-build-a-just-economy-a-book-talk-with-nick-romeo/

To purchase “The Alternative: How to Build a Just Economy,” visit: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/nick-romeo/the-alternative/9781541701618/

The episode The Alternative: How to Build a Just Economy – A Book Talk with Nick Romeo from the podcast Opportunity in America - Events by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program has a duration of 1:00:01. It was first published 26 Jan 16:56. The cover art and the content belong to their respective owners.

Permalink

More episodes from Opportunity in America - Events by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program

Advancing Equity Through Workforce Development — A Conversation with Clair Minson

For almost twenty years, the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program has convened local and national academies that bring together senior leaders from across the workforce ecosystem to learn together about increasing economic opportunity for all.

In this conversation facilitated by EOP Senior Fellow Dee Wallace, we hear from Clair Minson, the founder and principal consultant at Sandra Grace LLC, co-director of Workforce Matters, and a 2015 alumna of the Weinberg Sector Skills Academy in Baltimore.

The interview delves into the critical intersections of workforce development and racial equity. Minson shares insights on systemic change, racial equity, and the evolution of leadership within the workforce development field. Through candid reflections, Minson offers a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities for advancing equity in the workforce.

Visit our website for key lessons and takeaways from this discussion: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/workforce-leadership-profile-advancing-equity-through-workforce-development-with-clair-minson/

Or subscribe to our YouTube channel and watch the whole discussion there: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95bPOtrNyRo

The Guarantee: Inside the Fight for America’s Next Economy — A Book Talk with Natalie Foster

The myth that hard work pays off in the US, and always leads to a better and more economically prosperous life, has come unraveled in recent years. Many jobs simply do not pay enough for workers to meet their basic needs, much less do things such as save for retirement, fund their kids’ education, or allow for leisure.

In her first book, “The Guarantee: Inside the Fight for America’s Next Economy,” Natalie Foster asks us to imagine a new economic framework that casts aside the failures of the trickle-down approach to embrace one that builds economic security and well-being from the bottom up. Foster — co-founder of the Economic Security Project, a leading voice for guaranteed income, and senior fellow at the Aspen Institute’s Future of Work Initiative — explores a bold vision in which housing, health care, higher education, dignified work, family care, and an opportunity to build generational wealth are guaranteed for all by our government. Through real-life experiences, collaborations with prominent activists and thinkers, compelling narratives, and analysis, Foster forces us to dream big and ask tough questions about why we provide so many government-backed guarantees and supports to the private sector, but very little to the people.

In this book talk — hosted May 15, 2024, by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program — Foster discusses what a New Deal could look like for the 21st Century. Dr. Manuel Pastor, distinguished professor of sociology and American studies and ethnicity at the University of Southern California, provides opening remarks. Maureen Conway, vice president at the Aspen Institute and executive director of the Economic Opportunities Program, moderates the discussion.

For more information about this event, including speaker bios and additional resources, visit: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/the-guarantee-inside-the-fight-for-americas-next-economy/

To order “The Guarantee: Inside the Fight for America’s Next Economy,” visit: https://nataliefoster.me/the-guarantee/

For more clips and content from the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program, subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@aspeneop/

Or tune in to our podcast and listen on the go: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/aspeneop/

And join us at an upcoming event!

June 21 — The Workers Behind Our Groceries: A Book Talk with Benjamin Lorr
July 24 — Tapping into Worker Voice to Improve Job Quality: Lessons from the Talent Pipeline Management Network
Sept 4 — Seizing the Moment on Worker Rights: A Toolkit for Organizers and Practitioners

Employee Ownership Ideas Forum: Closing Remarks — Gwyneth Galbraith, JPMorgan Chase

In this clip, Gwyneth Galbraith, vice president for global small business philanthropy at JPMorgan Chase, offers closing remarks for the 2024 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum.

The Forum is hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Rutgers Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing. Our 2024 Forum, “Employee Ownership on the Ground,” brought innovative employee share ownership initiatives and speakers from around the country to Washington DC to highlight how this bipartisan approach to improving jobs, wealth creation, and business performance is helping create more equitable economies in states, cities, and rural communities.

For clips and highlights from the Forum, subscribe to the Economic Opportunities Program on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aspeneop/

And tune in to our podcast to listen to full discussions on the go: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/aspeneop

For more from the Forum — including videos, photos, audio, transcripts, and additional resources — visit: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/employee-ownership-ideas-forum-2024/

Five Big Ideas for Employee Ownership

In this video, we hear from five leaders representing a variety of sectors about their “big idea” for advancing employee ownership. Speakers include:

Christine Curella, Economic Development Consultant; Former Senior Policy Adviser to Deputy Mayor of New York City
Evan Edwards, Chief Executive Officer, Project Equity
Chris Griswold, Policy Director, American Compass
Wilma Liebman, Former Chair, National Labor Relations Board; Senior Fellow, Rutgers Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing
Jason Wiener, Member, Colorado Employee Ownership Commission; Executive Fellow, Rutgers Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing

This video comes from the second Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Rutgers Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing. Our 2024 Forum, “Employee Ownership on the Ground,” brought innovative employee share ownership initiatives and speakers from around the country to Washington DC to highlight how this bipartisan approach to improving jobs, wealth creation, and business performance is helping create more equitable economies in states, cities, and rural communities.

For clips and highlights from the Forum, subscribe to the Economic Opportunities Program on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aspeneop/

And tune in to our podcast to listen to full discussions on the go: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/aspeneop

For more from the Forum — including videos, photos, audio, transcripts, and additional resources — visit: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/employee-ownership-ideas-forum-2024/

The Future of Equity Compensation

Equity compensation is a standard practice across the corporate world. But very often, it’s just the C-suite and upper level management who are allowed to participate and capture the gains. Frontline workers, particularly women and people of color, are often excluded from this wealth-building opportunity. This panel will highlight examples and practices that reverse this trend so that equity compensation is equitable and so that the frontline workers, who are key to driving profits, also see a return for their contributions. Speakers include:

Robert Patricelli, Senior Advisor, InTandem Capital Partners

Anna-Lisa Miller, Founding Executive Director, Ownership Works

Anthony Cimino, Vice President and Head of Policy, Carta

Barbara Baksa, Executive Director, National Association of Stock Plan Professionals

Adria Scharf, Associate Director, Rutgers Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing (moderator)

For clips and highlights from the Forum, subscribe to the Economic Opportunities Program on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aspeneop/

And tune in to our podcast to listen to full discussions on the go: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/aspeneop

For more from the Forum — including videos, photos, audio, transcripts, and additional resources — visit: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/employee-ownership-ideas-forum-2024/

Every Podcast » Opportunity in America - Events by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program » The Alternative: How to Build a Just Economy – A Book Talk with Nick Romeo