Economics of Happiness

conference series

For four decades, Local Futures has been promoting an international movement for localization. As part of this work, we've organized a series of international Economics of Happiness conferences that brought together prominent local and international thinkers and activists to share ideas, inspiration and strategies, and to learn about localization initiatives springing up from the grassroots.

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In total 27 Economics of Happiness conferences took place in 8 different countries. Each unique event kick-started critical debate about the global corporate economy, and explored locally-adapted alternatives that benefit people and the Earth. Watch the video, a celebration of those conferences:

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Conferences took place on four continents. From the first ever conference in Australia to Europe, Asia and North America. Find more details of each conference in the slideshow below, including photo albums and playlists of plenary talks:

Jeonju 2022

Jeonju, South Korea - 2022

In 2022 we joined hands with the Jeonju government once more to co-host the 8th Economics of Happiness conference in Jeonju – an important event that showed again the firm commitment of the Jeonju government to create a healthy economy focused on human happiness and environmental health. This years event provided a forum for discussions on a ‘sustainable cities’ approach that simultaneously addressed the climate crisis while promoting the happiness of Jeonju’s citizens.

Jeonju 2021

Jeonju, South Korea - 2021

In 2021 we continued our collaboration with the Jeonju government and hosted the 7th Economics of Happiness conference in the city. The program included keynote speeches and panel discussions on the topic of ‘Climate Crisis and Localization’. International speakers included Alf Hornborg, André Leu, Jason Hickel, Andrew Simms, Helena Norberg-Hodge, as well as Kim Mi Ok and other highly respected thought leaders from South Korea. Download the program.

Jeonju 2020

Jeonju, South Korea - 2020

In 2020 we co-hosted together with the Jeonju city government the 6th Economics of Happiness conference in the city. The keynote speech was given by Helena Norberg-Hodge, followed by presentations from international speakers David Holmgren, Matthew Brown and Michael Shuman. The program focused on the three threads of local regeneration, food, and finance with an overall theme of: 'Localization for the Safe Society'. Watch a promo video . View the YouTube playlist .

Yokohama Japan 2019

Yokohama, Japan - 2019

The localization movement has taken root in Japan and is growing. In 2019 we've held the 3rd Economics of Happiness event at the Meiji Gakuin University in Yokohama, which served as a focal point for the localization movement in Japan. Co-host was Professor Keibo Oiwa, a widely respected philosopher in Japan. Other speakers were Michael Shuman (USA), Patricia Moguel Viveros (Mexico), Kai Sawyer (Japan), and others. Watch the keynote talk of Helena Norberg-Hodge.

Jeonju 2019

Jeonju, South Korea - 2019

The 5th conference took place in the city of Jeonju focusing on three inter-related topics: public banks, local food, and urban regeneration through community restoration. The event included a mix of keynote speeches, panel discussions and workshops. Along with an impressive array of voices from South Korea, we brought three international speakers to the gathering: Ellen Brown (USA), Della Duncan (UK), and Anja Lyngbaek (Denmark/Mexico). View photos in our Flickr album.

Bengaluru India 2019

Bengaluru, India - 2019

For a second time we joined hands with Bhoomi College hosting a conference with a special focus on education. The event brought together thinkers, educators, activists, practitioners, and youth for two days of inspirational talks, lively discussions, dialogues, and workshops focused on transitioning towards an ecological age. Watch the presentation of Local Futures' Programs Director Anja Lyngbaek. Browse the YouTube playlist. View photos in our Flickr album.

Ladakh India 2019

Ladakh, India - 2019

This two-day conference looked at different notions of ‘progress’, and discussed the need for compassionate economics – and what we can do to achieve it. We focused on the many heartwarming examples of people working to build vibrant local economies – both around the world and in Ladakh itself. Watch the keynote speech by Helena Norberg-Hodge and read a full report by Alex Jensen, Project Coordinator. Visit the conference website for photos and videos.

Tokyo Japan 2018

Tokyo, Japan - 2018

An inspiring one-day Economics of Happiness conference, organised by our close friend professor Keibo Oiwa, was held on November 11th at Meiji Gakun University in Tokyo, Japan. Speakers were Jay Tompt (UK), Kay Sawyer (Japan), Mika Tsutsumi (Japan), and Patricia Moguel Viveros (Mexico). There were also panel discussions on TPP, agriculture, food and seeds, and on ‘Blessed Unrest’ in Japan. View photos in our Flickr album.

Jeonju South Korea 2018

Jeonju, South Korea - 2018

The 4th conference in Jeonju focused on three threads: urban regeneration and the active involvement of residents, local food and Jeonju´s food plan and policys, and local finance strategies, including a local currency pilot project. The event also served as a next step in a process of cross-pollination between the Japanese localization and that of South Korea.. Speakers were Jay Tompt (UK) and Junko Edahiro (Japan). View photos in our Flickr album.

Bristol UK 2018 Photo by Jarred Kyle on Unsplash

Bristol, UK - 2018

The 18th Economics of Happiness conference aimed at catalyzing a new economy that works for both people and planet. Through a lively mix of plenary talks, workshops and discussions, we looked beyond single-issue approaches and Left/Right politics to explore the power of systemic change. Discussions were moderated by Jonathan Dimbleby, BBC presenter of current affairs. Read the blog by Wes Hinckes here. Watch all videos on the YouTube playlist.

Prato Italy 2018

Prato, Italy - 2018

This exciting two-day conference took place in the city of Prato, including talks, discussion groups and workshops on topics such as rethinking progress, decolonizing our imaginations, local food and farming, media and the fabrication of thought, happiness and place, culture and education, happiness and health. The 2nd day took place in at the Teatro Politeama in the centre of Prato. View photos in our Flickr album. Watch the talk of Serge Latouche and Giulietto Chiesa.

Tokyo Japan 2017

Tokyo, Japan - 2017

The Economics of Happiness World Forum was held in November 2017 at the Japan Education Center in Tokyo. This event focused on strengthening existing movements and forging alliances for a fundamental shift in society towards human and ecological well-being. It provided a big-picture framework that unites those concerned with the outer/political and those focused on the inner/spiritual.View photos in our Flickr album. Watch videos on the YouTube playlist.

Port Townsend USA 2017

Port Townsend, USA - 2017

In October 2017 the Economics of Happiness conference was held at the Fort Worden, a beautiful State Park on Puget Sound in Port Townsend, Washington and was jointly organized by Local Futures, the Living Economies Forum, and The Happiness Project. During this 2-day conference we discussed, discovered and devised better systems for now and the future. The program included plenaries, panels, and interactive workshops. Listen to podcast episodes of the presentations here.

Yellow Springs USA 2017

Helena Norberg-Hodge - Arthur Morgan award

Yellow Springs, USA - 2017

This 2-day conference was held at the Antioch University in Yellow Springs, Ohio. The gathering focused on localization initiatives, indigenous cultures, and community rights. Helena Norberg-Hodge, founder, was presented the Arthur E. Morgan Award, an annual award to honor those who are committed to: Community, Democracy, Entrepreneurship, and Individual Character. Read two blogs by Shawndra Miller here and here. View photos in our Flickr album.

Vermont USA 2017

Vermont, USA - 2017

This two-day conference was held at the Chase Community Center of the Vermont Law School in South Royalton and was co-organized by Local Futures, BALE (Building A Local Economy), Vermonters for a New Economy, and others. The event included both plenary talks and breakout sessions on important aspects of the shift to a new economy: food and farming, energy, education, finance and banking, local business, and more. Read blog by Ginny Sassaman here.

Santa Fe USA 2017

Santa Fe, USA - 2017

The Economics of Happiness Conference was held in Santa Fe at the the James A. Little Theater of the New Mexico School for the Deaf. The gathering, while identifying the systemic root causes of our interconnected crises, focused primarily on identifying key strategic shifts and cultivating collaboration toward economic localization. Watch the plenary talk by Winona LaDuke. Read more information on Reconnect.com. View photos in our Flickr album.

Jeonju South Korea 2017

Jeonju, South Korea - 2017

In collaboration with the Jeonju city government we hosted our 10th Economics of Happiness Conference in Jeonju in 2017. The event, which was held in the Korean Traditional Culture Centre, involved the participation of an association of 37 Korean mayors and signals the Jeonju government’s ongoing commitment to the global-to-local shift. In addition to voices from South Korea, the conference included several international speakers. Listen to talks on our YouTube playlist. View photos in our Flickr album.

Jeonju South Korea 2016

Jeonju, South Korea - 2016

In collaboration with the Jeonju city government and an association of 50 mayors, we've organised our 9th Economics of Happiness Conference. This gathering proofs the city council’s long-term commitment to a global to local shift. The main aims of this event was to deepen an informed debate about the global economy, to introduce key strategies for systemic change, and to explore positive action on a local level. Find the Conference Proceedings here. View photos in our Flickr album.

Florence, Italy 2016

Florence, Italy - 2016

On 2 October 2016, also known as the International Day of Non-Violence, the 8th Economics of Happiness Conference took place at the beautiful Teatro Verdi in the heart of Florence. This one-day event, hosted in collaboration with Mani Tese, a renowned Italian NGO, was an opportunity to join with others from the growing global-to-local movement. Read a full report by Alex Jensen, Project Coordinator. View photos in our Flickr album.

London, UK 2016

London, UK - 2016

At this seminar founder Helena Norberg-Hodge articulated a paradigm for an ‘economics of happiness’. Her talk highlighted human-scale economies and the steps at the community, national, and international levels, that can bring us there. Watch the plenary talks of Diego Isabel La Moneda, founder of Global Hub for the Common Good, and Stephen Hinton, co-founder of the Swedish Transition movement. View photos in our Flickr album. Watch all videos in the YouTube playlist.

Castlemaine, Australia - 2015

Castlemaine, Australia - 2015

In 2015 we co-organized the Local Lives – Global Matters conference involving a large number of regional partners who were already involved in various forms of localization, including co-founder of permaculture, David Holmgren’s Institute. The event consisted of plenaries, workshops, storytelling, arts and music, as well as site visits showcasing local initiatives. Internationals speakers were Manish Jain, Camila Moreno, Rob Hopkins, Susan Murphy, and others.

Jeonju South Korea 2015

Jeonju, South Korea - 2015

Our 6th Economics of Happiness Conference took place in Jeonju in September 2015. As an initiative of the Mayor of Jeonju himself, the event was organized in collaboration with the Jeonju city government. This gathering provided an exciting opportunity to contribute to positive policy change and resulted in the Jeonju Declaration on the Economics of Happiness. View photos in our Flickr album. Watch videos in our YouTube Playlist. Watch a summary video here.

Portland USA 2015

Portland, USA - 2015

The 4th Economics of Happiness Conference took place in Portland, Oregon. The program included plenaries, panels, and interactive workshops. The wide range of inter-connected topics included: local food, public policy, local business, cooperatives, spirituality, and more. Speakers were Bayo Akomolafe (Nigeria), Michael Shuman (USA), Catherine Ingram (USA), Camila Moreno (Brazil), and others. View photos in our Flickr album. Watch videos in our YouTube Playlist.

Bengaluru, India 2014

Bengaluru, India - 2015

Our 3rd Economics of Happiness Conference took place at Nimhans Convention Centre in Bangalore and turned out to be a tremendous success. The conference drew almost a 1000 people and brought together key change-makers from Asia, Africa, Europe, USA, South America, and India. The event was organized in close collaboration with Shikshantar and Bhoomi College and included thought-provoking talks, presentations, as well as interactive spaces. View photos in our Flickr album.

New York USA 2014

New York, USA - 2014

'Voices of Hope in a Time of Crisis' was a one-day event, including cutting-edge discussion, debate, and cultural exchange. It was also the launch of the International Alliance for Localization, a new forum for global collaboration to support place-based solutions on a planetary scale. Speakers included: Manish Jain (India), Charles Eisenstein (USA), Elizabeth Yeampierre (Puerto Rico), and others. View photos in our Flickr album. Watch all videos in the YouTube playlist.

Byron Bay, Australia 2013

Byron Bay, Australia - 2013

The second Economics of Happiness took place in the Community Centre of Byron Bay. This three day event included plenary talks, filmscreenings, and workshops. Special guests were actress Rachel Ward and Australian blues musician Ash Grunwald. Speakers were among others: Bayo Akomolafe (Nigeria), Mark Anielski (Canada), Winona La Duke (USA). Download the program. View photos in our Flickr album. Watch all videos in the YouTube playlist.

Berkeley USA 2012

Berkeley, USA - 2012

The first ever Economics of Happiness conference took place at the David Brower Center in Berkeley. Speakers included Charles Eisenstein (USA), Richard Heinberg (USA), Joanna Macy (USA), Stacy Mitchell (USA), and many others. There were special theatre and music performances and a pre-conference film screening of the films 'The Economics of Happiness' and 'Schooling the World'. Download the program. View photos in our Flickr album. Watch all videos in the YouTube playlist.

Powerful talks

Listen to inspirational talks from the conferences by world-renowned speakers and local activists. The talks are divided by topic, such as local food systems, climate, and education, and talks in non-English languages.

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Co-hosts

We often collaborate with other organisations to host our conferences. Our partners include:

Shikshanktar ∙ Bhoomi College ∙ Jeonju City Government ∙ Oases ∙ David Holmgren’s institute ∙ Global Hub for the Common Good ∙ Initiatives of Change ∙ Mani Tese ∙Gloria Germani ∙ Reconnect-Today ∙ BALE (Building A Local Economy) ∙ Vermonters for a New Economy ∙ Sustainable Future Fund of the Vermont Community Foundation ∙ New England Resilience ∙ Transition Network ∙ The New Economy Law Center ∙ Community Solutions ∙ Living Economies Forum ∙ The Happiness Project ∙ Sloth Club∙ Meiji Gakuin University ∙ Gruppo Bancaetica ∙ Terra Nuova Edizioni ∙ MDF Movimento Decrescita Felice ∙ Central Institute for Buddhist Studies ∙ Julay Ladakh ∙ Himalayan Film House ∙ The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council ∙ Leh District ∙ Huerto Roma Verde ∙ New Economy Network Australia ∙ Happy City ∙ The Goi Peace Foundation ∙ The Slow Food movement Japan ∙ Global Ecovillage Network ∙ and others

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