Intellectual and Reality Issues (IRIs)

Renowned conventional economists have unfortunately continued to advocate for a more intensified business-as-usual approach where by growth, more profit, increasing theoretical elegance and increased economic hegemony of global corporations are promoted. Green economists, however, have argued that these models do not hold much promise for solving the problems of today. Accordingly, it supports long term perspectives rather than the short-term business cycles found in the neoclassical economics taught in business schools. It takes a long-term view incorporating anthropology, archeology, and environmental sciences and uses this knowledge to filter its analysis of economic decision-making. This thematic area looked at green economics and its development as the most holistic and multidisciplinary discipline the world has ever seen, as no human activity and no part of planet that is of no interest in the discipline-the economics of interconnectedness. It combines a scientific approach with a social science approach. The ‘science’ here is natural science, ecology and social science and not econometrics or mathematical economics. This thematic area will strive to give conventional economics a human face in the context of the environment where it is used as a tool for analysis. Issues to be engaged here include but not limited to the following: reformulation of demand, supply, growth, long termism, holism, new relationship to science/ natural science and technology (green technology). The research goals and action agenda which will shape sustainable development of West Africa include but not limited to the following