The South African New Economics Network (SANE ) is a loose affiliation of individuals and organisations who recognise the central role of economics in modern society, and are concerned about the social and ecological consequences of economics as it is conventionally taught and practised.

• S A N E challenges the narrow way in which most economists have tended to reduce people to economic agents, the environment to property, social institutions to markets and progress to growth in production.

 
• S A N E questions the effectiveness and responsibility of the present world economic system in the face of widespread evidence of worsening income inequality, poverty, unemployment, violent crime, environmental degradation, unfulfilling work and disintegration of traditional values and social systems.

 
• S A N E encourages dialogue on alternative economic theories and practices which are more purposefully designed to promote social equity and justice, community self-reliance and ecological sustainability.

Roots

"New Economics" must not be confused with the more recently introduced concept of "The New Economy" which relates to the economics of globalisation and the information technology revolution. The roots of the "new economics" tradition embraced by SANE can be traced back through a long line of pioneers from all ages who resisted the prescriptions of popular economic theories based on the self-interests of minority ruling classes. The modern movement, however, is often attributed to the seminal work of UK economist E.F. Schumacher who, in 1976, wrote a treatise on a new "economics as if people mattered". Approximately ten years later, the ideas gained more popular support with the formation of TOES (The Other Economic Summit). This focal point was designed to promote an alternative view on economics which would counter the exclusive, self-interested agenda embodied in the G-7 Summits of the major industrial nations. TOES later reconstituted as the New Economics Foundation, a research and lobby organisation based in London. Many of its initial participants continue to do ground-breaking work independently. Among these leading proponents of new economics are James Robertson and Paul Ekins in the UK, Hazel Henderson and Herman Daly in the USA and Manfred Max-Neef in Chile.

SANE Activities

• Research, communication, civil society capacity building and advocacy
• Internet discussion forum, email bulletins and web site
• News Bulletins and New Economics newsletter
• New Economics study groups
• A monetary reform think-tank group
• Promotion of local economic activity and community building through Community Exchange Systems (CES)
• Accessing international New Economics literature and research, and running a New Economics resource centre
• Networking locally and internationally

Participation

We encourage broad participation and diverse contribution to the SANE Network by any individual or organisation engaged in questioning conventional economics and seeking alternatives which promote greater social equity, community self-reliance and ecological sustainability, and hence, a more SANE society. You can join the network through this web site, or contact us by phone, fax or email for more information. The SANE Community Exchange System (CES) seeks participants to create independent groups in new areas.