Regenerative economy for wellbeing

Kristín Vala Ragnarsdóttir and Ásgeir Brynjar Torfason

Chapter 9 in The Elgar Companion to Creating a Regenerative Economy for Wellbeing, 2026, pp 192-223 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: The chapter presents a vision for a regenerative economy that operates within planetary boundaries and centres on both human and ecological wellbeing. It is argued that meaningful transformation must go beyond technical reforms to address the underlying goals and values of the new paradigm for the economic system. This calls for new frameworks that prioritise sustainability, biodiversity, care, and justice. The concepts of ‘Earth system boundaries’ and ‘social tipping points’ are key elements of long-term transformation that synthesises ecological science, systems theory, and moral critique to lay out a vision of a post-growth economy. Meadows's leverage points offer a mental model for identifying where change might occur – from shallow tools like taxes to deeper shifts in worldviews. Aligning economic systems with planetary thresholds and leveraging social feedback reflects cutting-edge thinking in both climate policy and complex systems theory, bringing greater realism to a debate that economists only vaguely incorporate into current modelling.

Keywords: Regenerative Economy; Wellbeing; Paradigm Shift; Sustainability; Leverage Points; Systemic Transformation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781800884960
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