Centre for Economic Transformation| CET

What Doughnut Economics means for business

creating enterprises that are regenerative and distributive by design

Report

The 21st century’s rapidly compounding crises – from climate and ecological breakdown to extreme social inequities of power and opportunity – make it irrefutably clear that the global economic system must be transformed if humanity and the rest of life on Earth are to thrive. Doughnut Economics provides an increasingly recognised compass for such a thriving future, and is focused on meeting the needs of all people within the means of the living planet, by creating economies that are regenerative and distributive by design.

Deep design of business

What are the implications for the role and transformation of business, if it is to be part of this future? This paper explores how the deep design of business – through a company’s Purpose, Networks, Governance, Ownership, and Finance – powerfully shapes its strategic decisions and operational impacts, and ultimately determines whether or not businesses can transform to become part of a regenerative and distributive future.

By diving into five layers of deep design, this paper reveals both design blockages that prevent transformative action, and design innovations that can unlock its possibility.

In addition, this paper recognises that industry-level and system-wide transformations are crucial for turning the inheritance of a degenerative and divisive economic system into the beginnings of a regenerative and distributive one.

Reference Sahan, E., Sanz Ruiz, C., Raworth, K., van Winden, W., & van den Buuse, D. (2022). What Doughnut Economics means for business: creating enterprises that are regenerative and distributive by design. Doughnut Economics Action Lab.
Published by  Centre for Economic Transformation 1 November 2022

Publication date

Nov 2022

Author(s)

Erinch Sahan
Carlota Sanz Ruiz
Kate Raworth

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