Feminist and Ecological Alternatives

Lester Hadsell ()
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Lester Hadsell: University at Albany, State University of New York, Department of Economics

Chapter 5 in Social Economies, 2026, pp 59-73 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract Part I of Social Economics examines how values affect how each of us views economic systems. The discussion of paradigms is rounded out by outlining two approaches that demonstrate the perils of a universal “economic way of thinking.” Feminist Economics takes a more inclusive view of economic activity—expanding beyond market-based measures and male-centric approaches. Ecological Economics further widens the scope of economics, emphasizing the ecological context of economic activity. Both are concerned with the wider, more inclusive context of economic systems. Surveys show men and women economists disagree on a wide range of issues. Feminist economic research often focuses on topics that have been neglected, such as care work or economic theories which could be improved through better incorporation of gendered effects and interactions. Under-appreciated by the male-dominated discipline are notions of economic power and coercion in gender relationships. Ecological economics (EE) places emphasis on interactions between economic activity and the environmental and social realms. The EE conception of economic systems is more encompassing than the neo-classical paradigm in that EE treats economic activity as a subset of the environment and society rather than as separate. EE argues that sustainability relies on respecting scale and nature’s capacity. Natural capital, social capital, and diversity are keys.

Keywords: Paradigms; Feminist economics; Non-market work; Unpaid work; Gender bias; Norms; Cooperation; Gender Inequality Index (GII); Glass Ceiling Index; Ecological economics; Sustainability; Economic growth; Natural capital; Biodiversity; Economies of scale (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-21916-9_5

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