.Can Economists map 8 billion human relationships to be joyful and sustainable. This centuruy old question begun by Maths Goats Neumann Eintstein et al is coming down to the wire: extinction or sustainability of speies -2030reports.com . 2 main protagonits since 1970a billion poorest asian women have mapped quarer of the world's population's development with deeer joy and sustainability than all the wealth of American-English mindsets. Somwehere in netween the majority of human intels and almost infinet ART Intels wonder what UN2 countdown to 2030 can do next...LET's start with mapping SHELFF economies : S5 She-too womens intel built communities S3 Health: S4 Ed3 S0 LandLeaders s2 Food S1*17 Financial platforms (the 100 grey=blocks of intel between Unations & WallStreets

Friday, March 19, 2021

 sachs dialogues 2021


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You're invited to The Turn: From Reactionary Populism to a Progressive Alternative, a new live course with Columbia University Professor Jeffrey Sachs and political philosopher Roberto Mangabeira Unger!


In this three-part lecture series, Professors Sachs and Unger will discuss the systemic and structural changes necessary to create a progressive future, and contemplate profound questions like, what should we demand of ourselves given the imperfections of politics and the disappointments of history? 

Each session will probe how the political and economic structures of our world influence our relationships to other people and to society at large, using the United States and Brazil as primary case studies. 

Register for all three sessions below.

Session 1: Stagnant and divided: What happened to socially inclusive economic growth and progressive politics?

Friday, March 19th | 13:00 UTC

The first session of The Turn will set the stage for their discussion and seek to answer the question, "What happened to socially inclusive economic growth and progressive politics?"

Register for Session 1

Session 2: Losing and finding the way: The United States and Brazil

Friday, March 26th | 13:00 UTC

In the second session, Professors Sachs and Unger will explore the rise of populism and the shift towards progressivism in the contexts of the United States and Brazil.

Register for Session 2

Session 3: From now to an alternative: The missing project

Friday, April 2nd | 13:00 UTC

The final session presents the “progressive alternative” and outlines what steps should be taken to bring about these changes. 

Register for Session 3

usa never had good faith discussion in 1960s on whats next in integration

need states that can experimemt not dogmatic constitutions- we undersand intelectually absurd but dont have institutional means

be careful as we experiment with devolution not to admit someother local fascism

can education ever be part of solution - in socieites very large very unequal - how reconile local with national stards

what worls tracking improvemnt'real refinance

procedure for dealing with cases whee local school fails 


w also need different kind of education - much more radical than so far exsted; in university study of method 

national curriculum reinforce dominance of old paradim

we need liberating education that questions intellectual servility

educational liberation counterpart to political liberation

will tech help with this? how can online world empower offer new accessibility, key to transorm higher edu affordability - 

Dr. Simona L Brickers 09:02 AM 

I am so excited and have been looking forward to this talk every since it was announced, thank you!!!

christopher macrae (You) 09:04 AM  

what just happened in alaska? imo nothing looks more socially  divided to sdgs than such grandstanding  - which side caused more divisions in your view?

Paul Shaw 09:04 AM  

The UK is equally a strange country - why on earth did we leave the European Union?

Robert Bos 09:16 AM 

Because in the UK, like in the US, entertainment was given prevalence over education, and once education levels were down enough in the majority of the population, those in power could get away promoting ideas like Brexit on false premises.

Victor Schote Nogueira 09:05 AM  

Question from Brazil to Professor Mangabeira: how to conciliate the cooperative competition described in your work with the crescent economic complexity of modern products and services?

Roelof Jousma 09:06 AM  

We had national elections in the Netherlands this Tuesday. The progressive (left) parties were reduced severely. Left is weaker than it has ever been before.

Robert Bos 09:21 AM 

Does left equal progressive? From the Dutch example it seems that the "old fashioned" left ie labour party, socialist party, is on the way out, but the progressive liberals gained substantially and some new parties also had a progressive, European outlook.  It is a matter of definition, in part.

Paul Shaw 09:08 AM  

Progressive has been replaced by populism. Maybe authoritarian regimes like China are better than democracies long term?

Roelof Jousma 09:52 AM 

In what respect would authoritarian regimes be better?

Dr. Simona L Brickers 09:08 AM  

Will we have access to the slides in addition to the video…thank you.

SDG Academy 09:10 AM 

Video recordings of all three sessions will be available in our SDG Academy Library: https://sdgacademylibrary.mediaspace.kaltura.com/category/By+Series%3ET%3EThe+Turn%3A+From+Reactionary+Populism+to+a+Progressive+Alternative/207206793


We will check with Prof. Sachs about sharing the slides.

Freerk Visser 09:08 AM  

Elections in the Netherlands earlier this week - progressive parties minimized in a giant move to the right.

Jelle Buijs 09:15 AM 

Fellow Dutch speaking here - yes, very worrisome. Progressive politics is basically non-existent in the Dutch parliament nowadays.

Victor Schote Nogueira 09:08 AM  

Question from Brazil to Professor Sachs: is the US a fascist time-bomb? With huge inequalities, a semi-tribal political system, massive surveillance, and hundreds of military bases around the globe, is the downturn of the US dangerous for the world?

Adelheid Koepfer 09:09 AM  

Interesting choice of focus on Brazil and USA, see current relationship:

https://amazonwatch.org/news/2021/0318-bolsonaros-disingenuous-charm-offensive-in-washington

Ayo Johnson 09:12 AM  

To Jeffrey Sachs: why no mention of human trafficking and colonialism of Africa as factors in wealth creation?

Dr. Simona L Brickers 09:17 AM 

Ayo - Yes, I recognized the same things; however, he used the descriptor “labor” without calling out the institute of slavey as a primary labor force, which was everywhere.  I see you…

Dr. Simona L Brickers 09:12 AM  

Thank you.

Kayla Colyard - SDG Academy 09:13 AM 

You’re welcome!

Dr. Simona L Brickers 09:27 AM 

Kayla - as a side note, please ask Dr. Unger and Dr. Sachs to provide at least four books that I must read that is grounded in what is being shared. I am writing a book and would love to hightlight some of this information, thank you.

SDG Academy 09:33 AM 

Hi Dr. Brickers. You can learn more about Prof. Unger and Prof. Sachs’s own books at their respective websites: http://www.robertounger.com/ and https://www.jeffsachs.org/

SDG Academy 09:34 AM 

Prof. Unger also as a standalone video lecture series in the SDG Academy Library, where he expands on many of these topics: “Freedom Now: The Economic and Political Alternative.” http://bit.ly/SDGA_FreedomNow

SDG Academy 10:02 AM 

You should also check out the Book Club with Jeffrey Sachs (https://www.bookclubwithjeffreysachs.org). Next month, we’ll be exploring Mariana Mazzucato’s “Mission Economy,” where she explores the need for more public-private partnerships to spur innovation to tackle our world’s major challenges: https://marianamazzucato.com/books/mission-economy/

Victor Schote Nogueira 09:16 AM  

Question for both of the lecturers: the rise of Germany as an emergent power was a major driver of World Wars. What are the changes that we can expect for the 21st century as China rises (a communist country and a country that is not inserted in West Culture)?

Imani Malaika-Mehta 09:21 AM  

Thank you, Robert Bos! I was hesitant in attending this b/c my fear was that the truth would not be shared about how we came to be in this situation.

Carlos Medeiros 09:21 AM  

Hello to all participants! I would like to ask a question to Prof. Sachs: how can Brazil harmonize the development of its huge petroleum reserves - which are necessary to bring wealth to the country - with the sustainability development goals? Thank you for your time.

Ashwani Vasishth 09:33 AM 

I may be a victim of Western brainwashing, but, it seems to me, Brazil must either find an alternative to wealth creation, or we are all sunk.  


I, personally, buy the storyline of no more fossil fuels, in the face of climate change.

Paul Shaw 09:22 AM  

Interesting - increase in research and development leads to increase in management and professional class adversely affecting non professional class which leads to income inequality.

Begnadehi Claude Bationo 09:25 AM  

The COVID 19 contributed to increase inequalities in the world. Access to treatment and more importantly access to vaccines are confirming that. I entirely agree that technology is driven inequalities. But, is there a way to reverse that trend?

Miguel Eusse 09:26 AM  

Interesting how green the Sahel is.

Robert Bos 09:28 AM  

@Begnadehi Claude Bationo ... it is not by coincidence that Switzerland has such a low GINI ..  decentralization, subsidiarity and direct democracy all help to reduce inequality. The COVID on top of all this, enhancing inequality.

Anonymous Attendee 09:28 AM  

I see that the session is recorded - where can I look at the recording afterwards? Is it emailed to all participants?

Kayla Colyard - SDG Academy 09:30 AM 

Hello - The Video recordings of all three sessions will be available in our SDG Academy Library: https://sdgacademylibrary.mediaspace.kaltura.com/category/By+Series%3ET%3EThe+Turn%3A+From+Reactionary+Populism+to+a+Progressive+Alternative/207206793

Max Lin 09:28 AM  

I'm not sure if anyone here is familiar with Blockchain technology and Web 3 technologies and institutions, but if you are, what possibilities do you see here with changing political structures? Could it allow for mechanisms that don't require top-down government control?

Eric Hancock 09:28 AM  

Are we to think of the Atlantic slave trade as technological change alone? Surely not. Surely the ideological groundwork of racist colonialism precedes the steam engine… and tremendously enhanced the impact of steam engine technology on gdp.

Dr. Simona L Brickers 09:32 AM 

Eric - outstanding point!  However, Dr. Sachs framed technological advancement as the industrial era, which focused on no-human labor; however, it coincided with the end of slavery… I am curious to learn how they responsed, great inquiry…

Eric Hancock 09:34 AM 

Surey we are not under the impression that the industrial era was not platformed on and not contintuously enriched by slave labor as it got going in its first century of global spread?

Dr. Simona L Brickers 09:36 AM 

Yes, I agree with you.  I was merely sharing how the topic was broached that conveniently bypassed your point. You are correct…

Eric Hancock 09:38 AM 

Got you! Thanks for your response.

Michele Campanelli 09:29 AM  

I think it is appropriate to consider social surnames analysis, because the equality of Scandinavian countries is probably overrated...


https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/feb/04/social-mobility-equality-class-society

Samantha Starr 09:29 AM  

Prof Sachs mentioned the ownership of intellectual property contributes to the wealth inequality in the US. Is there something inherently wrong with the US patent system? Does IP contribute to weath inequality in other countries? How could the US patent system change to decrease its contribution to the US wealth inequality? Thanks!

Michele Campanelli 09:42 AM 

Intellectual Property actually coincides with the economic dualism between management centers and productive peripheries: in the United States the management centers are mainly on the coasts, in Europe the management centers are mainly in the large manufacturing production centers that converted into economic and financial management.


https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistical-atlas/gis/viewer/?config=RYB-2019.json&ch=ECF,C06,C02&mids=BKGCNT,C06M02,CNTOVL&o=1,1,0.7&center=49.97812,19.97593,3&lcis=C06M02&

Michael Ziemba 09:30 AM  

Does anybody have a definiton or explanation to whom  “enlightened elite” refers?

Eric Hancock 09:31 AM  

Interesting how the global south lost economic status as slavery was outlawed in the latter 19th century.

Imani Malaika-Mehta 09:31 AM  

@Max Lin - It depends on whether oligarchs with the access to technology by the means of their wealth allow technologies such as blockchain & AI to flourish in the marketplace.

Imani Malaika-Mehta 09:35 AM  

@Michael Ziemba - Look to Anand Giridharadas on 'Winners Take All' for a definition of “enlightened elite”

Eric Hancock 09:35 AM  

… rather dropped throughout the slave-filled 19th century.

Qais Wazir 09:36 AM  

I want to have access on the recorded videos.

Kayla Colyard - SDG Academy 09:37 AM 

Video recordings of all three sessions will be available in our SDG Academy Library: https://sdgacademylibrary.mediaspace.kaltura.com/category/By+Series%3ET%3EThe+Turn%3A+From+Reactionary+Populism+to+a+Progressive+Alternative/207206793

Imani Malaika-Mehta 09:36 AM  

If homogeneity is a characteristic of low income inequqlity, to what extent is income inequqlity primarily race/ethnically-based?

Michael Ziemba 09:41 AM 

I think he is using “homogeneity” as a way to show how people have been historically united through identities defined by ethnicity, religion, culture, etc. When a group’s “identity” is eroded by factors (such as migration), then inequaities become much more visible and can lead to a rise in populisim. “Homogeneity” exists in all societeies in differen ways in different times. Just my perspective here!

Imani Malaika-Mehta 09:37 AM  

“non-structual approach to structural inequalities”

Dr. Simona L Brickers 09:38 AM  

Question to Dr. Unger - will the vaccum burst? And, when it does is there a projected fallout.

Paul Shaw 09:38 AM  

1 Centre right/left parties broad based socially inclusive economic growth has slowed down abbecame pockets. 2 Heirarchical structure.Tax and transfer is epilogue 3. Money transfer is not socially cohesive - migratory flows eg. Vacuum has created reactionary populism. non structural solutions to structural problems - using ethnicism and religion to propogate its populism.

Paul Shaw 09:38 AM  

Sorry, ignore above - was taking notes

Kiran Vergis 09:39 AM 

Excellent notes though. :)

Sanjay Norbert De Mascarenhas Henriques 09:39 AM  

Patent durations should be decreased especially in areas of critical progress and development.


Affordable, quality and universally recognized education should be made available globally.


These are critical for fairplay.

Roelof Jousma 09:57 AM 

Agree with the remark that we still have to define what quality education content wise would be ...

Sanjay Norbert De Mascarenhas Henriques 10:00 AM 

In addition it is critical to tackle discrimination and racism. 

Promoting Dignity,  respect and self worth is required for the success of SDG's

Imani Malaika-Mehta 09:40 AM  

Populism sounds like Noam Chomsky’s “Manufactred Consent”

Imani Malaika-Mehta 09:42 AM  

Making some intellectual property available on an open source basis will create economic prosperity for those who do not presently have it.

Juliano Souza dos Passos 09:43 AM  

Roberto Mangabeira Unger, thanks for the lecture.

How can we achieve the required spreading of the knowledge economy with the current distribution of patents and inventions? The unavoidable consequence of the current restrictive system is, besides dragging world's productions systems, to concentrate profits in developed and already rich countries. How to change the system when these are the same countries controlling patenting rules and knowledge generation?

Roelof Jousma 09:59 AM 

The issue that many patents are being developed based on government funded research is somethong that has to be re-discussed as well

Juliano Souza dos Passos 10:07 AM 

By design to concentrate knowledge control. I totally agree with you.

Ayo Johnson 09:43 AM  

Can you discuss the open source movement as a force to democratize the knowledge economy?

Imani Malaika-Mehta 09:44 AM  

Increase access to STEM education and you will see a narrowing of income equality.

Ashwani Vasishth 09:48 AM 

I would argue that it is education, itself, that makes the difference, rather than STEM education in particular.  That soulnds like a bias toward objectivist thinking.

Michelle Thomasson 09:47 AM  

I'm concerned that the financialisation of nature (recognising the biodiversity and climate change crisis) will only exacerbate inequality. The metrics to measure, value and control is part of the knowledge economy & this does not appear to be creating a 'new' economy it only works to ameliorate drivers related to forms of wealthy production & consumption.

Michele Campanelli 10:08 AM 

If you don't consider GDP maybe the quality of life in a small Greek island is better than that of the best neighborhood in any western city... :-) ...


https://youtu.be/Mzy6dTrIVN8

Imani Malaika-Mehta 09:47 AM  

Education for equity also means that the populace is educated about the structural mechanisms that maintain inequality.

Carolyne Nyarangi 09:48 AM  

Its obvious that the innequalities have been amplified by the Covid-19 pandemic, this is witnessed in the current global confusion between reacting to the immediate effects of the pandemic and the need to continue focusing on achieving the SDGs, how will the global leaders enable African countries catapult towards achieving the global goals considering the unique form of inequality represented by the continent?

GS Mani 09:48 AM  

What are your thoughts about inclusive growth in countries such as India which is struggling hard  to grow in technology

Bochra Kaddoura 09:48 AM  

I believe the new concept of circular economies or doughnut economy would be a place to start because it builds a whole new understanding of what a 21 st century economy should be

Imani Malaika-Mehta 09:48 AM  

Education: https://www.sotvkccreatorsclubs.org/about/

E Pachella 09:55 AM 

Thanks for sharing.

Begnadehi Claude Bationo 10:00 AM 

Interesting. Thanks for sharing Imani Malaika-Mehta. I am interested to know more about your club.

Imani Malaika-Mehta 09:50 AM  

Circular economies can still be structured to not include mechanisms to decrease structural inequality.

Bochra Kaddoura 09:51 AM  

I mean wouldn’t a shift in paradigm be vital moving from our economy today to the circular economy or doughnut economy?

Michael Ziemba 09:52 AM 

I think he’s trying to make the point that our “paradigm shift” needs to be one in which we reject “dogmatic thinking”. To me, this sounds paradoxical, too. That’s why we are here!

Diane d’Arras 09:53 AM  

Patents are protected for 20 years. Is there any explanation for the 20 years and could it be reduced to-day knowing the way that knowledge and business can be shared much quicker thuan before.

Qais Wazir 09:59 AM 

Patents expire because allowing them to last for too long places a constraint on others who want to improve upon existing technology. Current patent law allows inventors to recoup their investment and profit from their invention without slowing down innovation.

one of the reason that it couldn’t reduced in amount of year is its cost of research.

Roelof Jousma 10:02 AM 

does it take into account the costs made by tax payers that fund education and research that form the foundation for many innovations.

Imani Malaika-Mehta 09:55 AM  

@Ashwani Vasishth - I am not espousing objectivist thinking. Sachs states that technological knowlwdge has been a major factor in creating wealth. There are many educated people who are not able to provide the means to increase wealth through the means of production.

Imani Malaika-Mehta 09:57 AM  

The New Deal for African-Americans = reparations?

Paul Shaw 09:58 AM  

Phew - thank you Roberto - in a nutshell you are advocating an inclusive knowledge economy through reform of the electoral system, radical decentralisation of government/decision making, and an education system which liberates the mind?

Mark Medish 09:59 AM  

Jeff rightly emphasized tehcnological change.  Can Roberto’s alternative vision systematically harness the digital technologies that now increasingly drive our economies? “Surveillance capitalism” seems to be the new dialectical equilibirum.

Bochra Kaddoura 10:00 AM  

Given the all the technological  disruptions , the pandemic and all the challenges we are facing today wouldn’t a shift in paradigm in the economy understanding be more vital in moving into a more circular economy or doughnut economy as we call it today be crucial today? 

I also want to thank Dr Jeffrey for changing my life with the SDGs courses.

Jenny Balboa 10:05 AM 

Due to the pandemic, the global economy has suffered its worst recession. Meanwhile the governments are spending massively. The world is facing a twin health and economic crisis. It has exacerbated global inequality. Developing countries are facing potential debt crisis while developed countries are also facing fiscal crunch. How do we get out of this rut? What are the new sources of growth in the post covid world? What kind of changes at the international level should be made

JAMES STONER 10:00 AM  

Not a question - just a Wow!  Brilliant all around.  Thank you — Looking foward to next sessions.

Dr.Najat Es'haqi 10:01 AM  

Dr.Najat Es'haqi Bahrain ... how can we convince communities with new ways of dealing with global issues and reshaping and reforming of educational systems after all the negative impacts on those communities .. I think we all striving for a role model

Nazar Khan 10:01 AM  

Occupation of New World by inhabitants of tiny Europe determines a lot about the culture and ethos of Americas and other parts of New World away from egalitarianism.

Wissam DAOU 10:01 AM  

There is a risk that is taking huge momemenum, highly encouraged by populism, risk which is “aternative realities”.  That is also a form of vitality, a bad one. What would you propose to conter this dangerous trend?

Imani Malaika-Mehta 10:01 AM  

Surveillance capitalism will lead to a social credit system. The need to control the masses as income inequality increases will become a political mechanism.

Michele Campanelli 10:01 AM  

I live in Europe (Italy).

Actually it seems to me that the federal budget of the United States is very similar to that of a social democratic country: the expenses for welfare and public health are quite high and continuously increasing.


https://www.cbo.gov/publication/56325


https://www.cbo.gov/publication/56326

Samantha Starr 10:03 AM  

The events leading up to Trump's election fascinates me. Any recommended reading material about how US history, culture, and current mentality led to his election?

anna colombo 10:06 AM 

"strangers in their own land" Arlie Russell Hochschild opened a world to me

Imani Malaika-Mehta 10:07 AM 

The events leading up to Trump's election are a culmination of backlash against the civil rights movement.

Joel Rogers 10:05 AM  

What's your view of the promise of urbanization -- another huge trend in the world -- as a promising way to reconcile your views and move the progressive project forward? Cities are more productive AND more tolerant AND a natural place to construct high quality public goods for residents AND much better for the environment (because more efficient in consumption, and taking up less physical space). Couldn't a slightly more mindful metrosapians pretty easily live better together and with nature?

Imani Malaika-Mehta 10:05 AM  

I would like to see structural adjustment policies of the IMF included in this discussion. IMF should get rid of SAP (structural adjustment policies) that shackle developing nations with debt while confiscating natural resources needed to pay it back.

Bochra Kaddoura 10:06 AM  

What is going to happen to the professional society or the elite if we want to call it once AI takes over their jobs ? How are we going to solve the social inequality because for sure we will have a useless class maybe with health benefits but with nothing to do?

Imani Malaika-Mehta 10:08 AM 

Surveillance capitalism will lead to a social credit system. The need to control the masses as income inequality increases will become a political mechanism.

Imani Malaika-Mehta 10:06 AM  

@Samantha Starr - The events leading up to Trump's election are a culmination of backlash against the civil rights movement.

Samantha Starr 10:09 AM 

Yes I caught that from Prof Sachs, and I'd love to learn more about why that backlash exists. I was asking if anyone had any recommended reading material about a more in depth analysis on that phenomenon.

Samantha Starr 10:11 AM 

I'm trying to wrap my head around how such a large portion of the population are racist that someone like Trump can be elected.

Roelof Jousma 10:07 AM  

I agree with RMU that repairing inequalities fiscally after they have occurred is inefficient and unethical. People doing useful jobs shouls be paid accordingly and feel proud about their work. Managers don't need to earn millions a year when doing the jobs they like.

Marcela Johnson Murrell 10:08 AM  

Hello.

I have a question and statement. where I live (Costa Rica) the party in the government signed SDGs. Due to these and other economical issues, they stated that they needed to recuesta a loan from the World bank to finance everything.

To start collecting, they are putting the country in the center of a verge, of new taxation in unimaginable basic things (like food, housing and education). Labor is struggling and even professionals, because middle class is coming to an end, and the funds that have been collected, now they are been redirected to parties personal goals ( construction of a train, the opening is a NASA or Disney in the county, etc), instead of fixing priority issues in the country ( poverty, lack of accessible housing, etc)

So, how the population can fight this? if government although there have been small riots (due to covid-19) against this political stand, they still sign and put into effect the project. How to fight this?

Sanja Terlević 10:09 AM  

It would be wonderful ti

Jenny Balboa 10:10 AM  

Jenny Balboa (You): Due to the pandemic, the global economy has suffered its worst recession. Meanwhile the governments are spending massively. The world is facing a twin health and economic crisis. It has exacerbated global inequality. Developing countries are facing potential debt crisis while developed countries are also facing fiscal crunch. How do we get out of this rut? What are the new sources of growth in the post covid world? What changes at the international level should be made?

Sanja Terlević 10:10 AM  

It would be wonderful to have access to the transcript of this great conversation! :)

Marcela Johnson Murrell 10:12 AM  

I will like to have access to the different links they were posted in the chat, but it's not allowing me to copy them. Could these be sent afterwards to the participants? thanks

christopher macrae (You) 10:12 AM  

very important dialogue- will bookmary with replay of video be available?