Imagine 2012 is the international conference on co-operatives economics. Sunday will see economists and co-operators involved in discussions on sustainability, growth and resilience.
The highlights of the day will include: Dr. Thomas Homer-Dixon, bestselling author of ‘The Upside of Down’ and the Governor General’s award-winning book ‘The Ingenuity Gap’, and Richard Wilkinson, co-author of ‘The Spirit Level’.
Dr. Thomas Homer-Dixon will be speaking at 4pm on ‘Complexity: What drives innovation, adaptation and resilience?’ He said of the conference: “Imagine 2012 will explore practical and sorely needed alternatives to current conventional economic models, theories, and practices that threaten our children’s future. In a world that now seems perpetually on the edge of an economic abyss, nothing could be more important.”
Dr Homer-Dixon’s speech will have commentary from Jean-Louis Bancel, CEO Credit Cooperatif, France.
Richard Wilkinson, will be addressing the issue of ‘How bad is income inequality and why does it matter?’ at 12pm. Mr Wilkinson explained: “Having given too many lectures on our book to leave time for other work, I now turn down most invitations – particularly if they involve traveling long distances. But I made an exception of Imagine 2012 because I believe co-operatives and greater economic democracy are the way forward for all of us."
His speech will have commentary from Bill Cheney, CEO, Credit Union National Association, USA.
Other discussions will include: ‘Economics Unmasked: Can we develop more meaningful economics?’ by the author of ‘From the Outside Looking In: Experiences in Barefoot Economics’, and Chilean economist Manfred Max-Neef at 8.45am.
This will be followed later in the day by ‘Are prosperity and sustainability compatible?’ by William Rees, School of Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), University of British Columbia (Canada) with commentary from Ed Mayo, General Secretary of Co-operatives UK at 2pm.
The final speech at 6.30pm will ask: ‘Do co-ops need a different type of employees and organisational design than conventional firms? Lessons from behavioural economics’.
This will be by Avner Ben-Ner, Professor at the Centre for Human Resources and Labor Studies (formerly the Industrial Relations Center) in the Carlson School of Management.
Other attendees will include: Charles Gould, Director General of the ICA, and Joy Cousminer, CEO, Bethex Federal Credit Union, USA.
There will be open discussions throughout the day.
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