Template-type: ReDif-Paper 1.0
Author-Name: Ritzen, Jo
Author-workplace-name: RS: GSBE MGSoG, Maastricht Graduate School of Governance, RS: UNU-MERIT Theme 3
Author-Name: Nillesen, Eleonora
Author-workplace-name: Maastricht Graduate School of Governance, RS: GSBE MGSoG, RS: GSBE UM-BIC
Title: A chance for optimism
Abstract: There is room for optimism. There is a considerable potential to thwart<br/>the dystopias of the joint collapse of democracy and the natural<br/>environment. We know why public action remains too little too late: too<br/>little trust among substantial groups of the population that the<br/>collective response to globalization is serving them and too little<br/>broadly spread information on the pending collapse of the natural<br/>environment. We also know what increases trust: collective action<br/>towards more social cohesion, towards less income and wealth inequality,<br/>towards better chances for a quality education for all children and a<br/>more equal access to health care, funded by taxes on profits and on<br/>wealth. The chance for optimism is in the use of that knowledge in<br/>public policy. Put knowledge institutes in the position of promoting the<br/>knowledge that provides leeway for more trust in society and in<br/>Government and for better informing the public that climate change is a<br/>threat to all. Trust and information to save the fish from extinction in<br/>the 2080’s by taking decisions in the 2020’s.
Classification-JEL: h10,d63,d69,o43,o47,o57,z13
Series: UNU-MERIT Working Papers
Creation-Date: 20220815
Number: 2022-026
File-URL: https://cris.maastrichtuniversity.nl/ws/files/106568226/wp2022_026.pdf
File-Format: application/pdf
File-Size: 1044036
Handle: Repec:unm:unumer:2022026
DOI: