Forging a humanistic and social future through a pluralistic economy

Ulf Johanson and Emmanuel Aboagye

Chapter 10 in Pluralistic Economics, 2026, pp 122-129 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: In the book, we have argued that the dominant neoclassical economic perspective, with its focus on monetary value, profit maximization, and the flawed assumption of the “economic man,” is inadequate for addressing our world's complex crises. We argue for a pluralistic economics: an approach that is not a rejection of calculation but an expansion of economic visions. It is an approach grounded in heterodox principles and democratic ideals, which recognizes that economics is inseparable from ethics, power, societal norms, and our deepest existential questions. Using workplace health as an example, we have demonstrated how this shift can be operationalized through stakeholder-oriented governance and business models that integrate human and social dimensions. The core message is that there is a need to critically examine the interplay between resource management and human action from a humanistic standpoint. The purpose is to help shape the future. This final chapter explores the critical research questions that must be answered and the profound potential of pluralistic economics to guide us toward a more humanistic and social future.

Keywords: Heterodox economy; Workplace well-being; Deliberative democracy; Sustainability imperative; Re-politicization of the economy; Humanistic economics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035393497
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