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The Economics of Happiness

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Saving Japan’s seed heritage from “free trade”

I recently had the opportunity to interview Masahiko Yamada, formerly Japan´s Minister of Agriculture and now one of the country´s foremost food sovereignty activists. We met at an international Economics of Happiness Conference in Prato, Italy, where Yamada delivered a keynote speech about the birth of a new citizens’ movement to protect Japan´s food-crop heritage from corporate take-over.Keen to learn more, I ask Yamada for an interview before he departs Italy. With only an hour to spare, … [Read more...]

Groomed to Consume

With Christmas coming up, household consumption will soon hit its yearly peak in many countries. Despite homely pictures of tranquility on mass-produced greeting cards, Christmas is more about frenzied shopping and overspending than peace on earth or quality time with family and friends. As with so much of our lives, the holidays have been hijacked by the idea that satisfaction, even happiness, is only one more purchase away.Two generations ago, my Norwegian grandmother was overjoyed as a … [Read more...]

Born to Buy?

With Christmas just behind us, household consumption has hit its yearly peak in many countries. Despite the homely pictures of tranquility on mass-produced greeting cards, the fact is that Christmas is more about frenzied shopping and overspending than peace or quality time with family and friends. As with so many areas of our lives, the holidays have been hijacked by the idea that satisfaction, even happiness, is only one more purchase away.Two generations ago, my Norwegian grandmother was … [Read more...]

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