ABSTRACT
This chapter begins with a brief review of the emergence of 'environmental economics' and the more radical 'ecological economics' before focusing on some of the key concepts used to broaden economic thinking in relation to both environmental and social impacts. It argues that the functioning of the economy is only one dimension of social planning because it is also important to focus on cultural vitality and the politics of participation. The chapter touches on the need to widen prevailing economic thought and action to ensure that it can deliver better outcomes in relation to both environmental and social wellbeing and importance of cultural vitality as a measure of social wellbeing. All the Evergreen cooperatives favour the employment of local people in order to deliver both social and environmental benefits to the city. The chapter concludes with the argument that communities only exist in the contemporary world to the extent that they are created and constantly reinforced.
