New Economics Foundation

{{Short description|British economics think tank}} {{Use British English|date=March 2026}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}} {{Infobox organization | formation = {{Start date and age|1986}} | logo = New Economics Foundation logo (2020).png | abbreviation = NEF | founder = [[The Other Economic Summit]] | type = [[Think tank]] | registration_id = 1055254 | status = Charity | purpose = [[Social justice]], [[Economic justice]], [[Environmental justice]], [[Public policy]], [[Devolution in the United Kingdom|Devolution]] | headquarters = 10 Salamanca Place | location = [[London]], [[United Kingdom]] | leader_title = Chief Executive | leader_name = [[Dhananjayan Sriskandarajah]] | num_staff = 43 | num_staff_year = 2025 | website = {{URL|https://neweconomics.org/}} }}

The '''New Economics Foundation''' ('''NEF''') is a [[Progressivism|progressive]] [[Great Britain|British]] [[think tank]] that "aims to create a new economy that works for people and within environmental limits".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-17 |title=A new economy for a new era |url=https://neweconomics.org/2025/02/a-new-economy-for-a-new-era |access-date=2026-03-18 |website=New Economics Foundation |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Our ambitions |url=https://neweconomics.org/about/our-missions |access-date=2026-03-18 |website=New Economics Foundation |language=en}}</ref> Its work encompasses the production of research and policy, the support of on-the-ground projects, campaigning and [[Consulting firm|consultancy work]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our work |url=https://neweconomics.org/about/our-work |access-date=2026-03-18 |website=New Economics Foundation |language=en}}</ref>

The foundation employs 43 members of staff at its London office and is active at a range of different levels. Its programmes include work on well-being, its own approaches to measurement and evaluation, sustainable local regeneration, its own forms of finance and business models, sustainable public services, and the [[Economic analysis of climate change|economics of climate change]].

== History == NEF was founded in 1986 by the leaders of [[The Other Economic Summit]] (TOES) with the aim of working for a "new model of wealth creation, based on equality, diversity and economic stability".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-30 |title=Annual report and financial statements |url=https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search?p_p_id=uk_gov_ccew_onereg_charitydetails_web_portlet_CharityDetailsPortlet&p_p_lifecycle=2&p_p_state=maximized&p_p_mode=view&p_p_resource_id=%2Faccounts-resource&p_p_cacheability=cacheLevelPage&_uk_gov_ccew_onereg_charitydetails_web_portlet_CharityDetailsPortlet_objectiveId=A18031117&_uk_gov_ccew_onereg_charitydetails_web_portlet_CharityDetailsPortlet_priv_r_p_mvcRenderCommandName=%2Faccounts-and-annual-returns&_uk_gov_ccew_onereg_charitydetails_web_portlet_CharityDetailsPortlet_priv_r_p_organisationNumber=1055254&_uk_gov_ccew_onereg_charitydetails_web_portlet_CharityDetailsPortlet_priv_r_p_organisationNumber=1055254 |access-date=2026-03-18 |website=[[Charity Commission for England and Wales]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.neweconomics.org/content/history-nef |title=The Other Economic Summit and the New Economics Foundation |access-date=11 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130411073919/http://www.neweconomics.org/content/history-nef |archive-date=11 April 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The organisation has launched a range of new organisations to promote its ideas, including the [[Ethical Trading Initiative]], [[AccountAbility]], [[Time Banking UK]], [[London Rebuilding Society]], the [[Community Development Finance Association]], and others.{{cn|date=December 2025}}

The organisation's current projects include work on community-based housing, worker organising in the digital economy, restoring local banking and analysing the impacts of energy crises<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://neweconomics.org/2026/04/protecting-consumers-and-the-uk-economy-from-an-energy-price-shock |title=Protecting consumers and the UK economy from an energy price shock |access-date=9 April 2026 }}</ref>. It is also active in community economic regeneration. The Foundation's BizFizz programme, an entrepreneurship development programme, has created more than 900 new businesses in deprived areas. The organisation has now taken this and Local Alchemy to six other countries through its international programme.{{cn|date=December 2025}}

The Foundation's public events attract well-known speakers. Its [[clone town]] campaign in favour of local economic diversity was covered two years running by every major national newspaper and TV news station and it was taken up in the Save Our Small Shops Campaign in the ''[[Evening Standard]]''.{{cn|date=December 2025}}

== Work == NEF supported the National Programme for Third Sector Commissioning with research and reporting on "how best the Third Sector could evidence its wider impact on public services and their delivery", which underpinned the [[Office of the Third Sector]]'s work programme on third sector commissioning from 2009.<ref>Cabinet Office, Office of the Third Sector, [https://neweconomics.org/uploads/files/6059c7f32debc02156_dem6iys0l.pdf National Programme for Third Sector Commissioning - a better return: setting the foundations for intelligent commissioning to achieve value for money], published January 2009, accessed 29 June 2021</ref>

=== Jubilee 2000 campaign === {{main|Jubilee 2000}} The [[Jubilee 2000]] campaign, strategised for and run by NEF,<ref>Greenhill, Romilly (February 2002). [http://www.un-ngls.org/orf/2002-02-The%20Unbreakable%20Link.pdf The unbreakable link] - debt relief and the [[Millennium Development Goals]]. New Economics Foundation and Jubilee Debt Campaign.</ref> collected 24 million signatures for its worldwide petition on development and poverty.<ref>[http://www.neweconomics.org/gen/m2_i5_jubileeresearch.aspx Jubilee research]. New Economics Foundation.</ref>

===Oil Depletion Analysis Centre=== {{Infobox organization | name = Oil Depletion Analysis Centre | former_name = | image = Oil Depletion Analysis Centre logo.jpg | image_border = | image_size = 200px | image_alt = Oil Depletion Analysis Centre logo | caption = | map =  | map_size =  | map_alt =  | map_caption =  | map2 = | abbreviation = | predecessor = | successor = | formation = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2001|06|01}} | type = [[International nongovernmental organization|INGO]] | purpose = To raise international public awareness and promote better understanding of the world's oil-depletion problem | headquarters = London | coordinates =  | region_served = Worldwide | membership = | language =  | general_secretary =  | leader_title = Director | leader_name = Jim Meyer | leader_title2 = | leader_name2 = | leader_title3 = | leader_name3 = | leader_title4 = | leader_name4 = | key_people = | main_organ =  | parent_organisation = [[New Economics Foundation]] | affiliations =  | budget = | num_staff = | num_volunteers = | website = | dissolved = Ceased publishing {{End date|2012|3|30}}; Archives available | remarks = }} The Oil Depletion Analysis Centre (ODAC) was founded by Sarah Astor and [[Colin Campbell (geologist)|Dr. Colin Campbell]]. In his book ''Oil Crisis'' Campbell explains that the [[Astor family]] wanted to establish and provide funds for an institute to raise awareness on this issue of oil depletion and peak oil.<ref name="oilcrisis">{{cite book |title=Oil Crisis |last=Campbell |first=Colin |author-link=Colin Campbell (geologist) |year=2005 |publisher=Multi-science publishing |isbn=0906522390 |page=309 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VaGCbpbzjRwC }}</ref> The first director was Dr. Roger Bentley.

In 2004, ODAC sponsored [[Chris Skrebowski]]'s report, called "Oil Field Megaprojects", which analysed data from 68 oil production projects.<ref name="tpo">{{cite book |title=The Party's Over: Oil, War and the Fate of Industrial Societies |last=Heinberg |first=Richard |author-link=Richard Heinberg |year=2005 |publisher=Clairview Books |isbn=1905570007 |page=118 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sk2De9Yb7SoC}}</ref>

In November 2005, ODAC published a report after conducting a survey led by Chris Skrebowski, which concluded that oil supply will not meet demand by 2007 or 2008.<ref name="odp">{{cite book |title=The Oil Depletion Protocol: A Plan to Avert Oil Wars, Terrorism and Economic Collapse |last=Heinberg |first=Richard |author-link=Richard Heinberg |year=2006 |publisher=Clairview Books |isbn=190557004X |page=17 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-3DovwpRGdkC}}</ref>

In June 2007, a report authored by Colin Campbell predicted that peak oil would occur within four years.<ref name="zge">{{cite book |title=Zero Greenhouse Emissions: The Day the Lights Went Out Our Future World |last=Williamson |first=Robert |year=2008 |publisher=Strategic Book Publishing |isbn=978-1606933060 |page=99 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1JiCoAWSh8MC }}</ref>

=== Happy Planet Index === {{main|Happy Planet Index}}

In July 2006, the Foundation launched the [[Happy Planet Index]], intended to challenge existing indices of a state's success, such as [[Gross Domestic Product]] (GDP) and [[Human Development Index]] (HDI).

NEF was awarded the [[International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies]]' Award for the Betterment of the Human Condition in 2007, in recognition of its work on the Happy Planet Index.<ref>New Economics Foundation, [https://neweconomics.org/uploads/files/2027fb05fed1554aea_uim6vd4c5.pdf National Accounts of Well-being: bringing real wealth onto the balance sheet], published January 2009, accessed 14 May 2021</ref><ref>International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, [https://www.isqols.org/Award-for-the-Betterment-of-the-Human-Condition Award for the Betterment of the Human Condition], accessed 14 May 2021</ref>

=== 21-hour working week === In February 2010, the New Economics Foundation called for gradual transition to a working week of 21 hours as a way to tackle: "overwork, unemployment, over-consumption, high carbon emissions, low well-being, entrenched inequalities, and the lack of time to live sustainably, to care for each other, and simply to enjoy life".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://neweconomics.org/2010/02/21-hours|title=21 hours|publisher=New Economics Foundation|date=13 February 2010|access-date=30 January 2022}}</ref> In 2012, [[Anna Coote]], the head of social policy at The New Economics Foundation said this could be done as a three-day week.<ref name="Save the world">{{cite news |date= 10 February 2012 |title= Save the world with a 3-day work week |url= https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/careers/management/save-the-world-with-a-3-day-work-week/article545320/ |work= Globe and Mail |access-date= 31 July 2025 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201103215517/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/careers/management/save-the-world-with-a-3-day-work-week/article545320/ |archive-date= 3 November 2020}}</ref> The New Economics Foundation stated a 21-hour work week would provide a better work-life balance, better balance work hours across the population and help towards a more sustainable and less carbon-dependent economy.<ref name="Save the world"/> A three-day work-week has also been support by British sociologist Peter Fleming in his 2015 book, ''The Mythology of Work''.<ref>{{cite news |last= Veal |first= Anthony |date= 24 December 2018 |title= It's time to put the 15-hour work week back on the agenda |url= https://theconversation.com/its-time-to-put-the-15-hour-work-week-back-on-the-agenda-106754 |work= [[The Conversation (website)|The Conversation]] |access-date= 31 July 2025}}</ref>

== Funding == The New Economics Foundation has been rated as 'broadly transparent' in its funding by [[Transparify]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.transparify.org/blog/2018/12/17/yu6z844z5sf3vnhvqkegzeefuzv12o|title=Round-Up of Transparify 2018 Ratings|website=Transparify|date=17 December 2018 |language=en-US|access-date=7 July 2019}}</ref> and has been given an A grade for funding transparency by [[Who Funds You?]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Who Funds You? New Economics Foundation |url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/who-funds-you/new-economics-foundation/ }}</ref>

== Chief Executives == {| class="wikitable" |+ !Name !Time in Office |- |[[Ed Mayo]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Smithers |first=Rebecca |date=2009-07-14 |title=Ed Mayo resigns from Consumer Focus |url=https://www.theguardian.com/money/2009/jul/14/ed-mayo-resigns |access-date=2026-03-18 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> |1992 – 2003 |- |[[Marc Stears]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gill |first=Tess |date=2017-07-10 |title=NEF announcement: CEO Marc Stears is moving on |url=https://neweconomics.org/2017/07/nef-announcement-ceo-marc-stears-moving |access-date=2026-03-18 |website=New Economics Foundation |language=en}}</ref> |January 2016 – November 2017 |- |[[Miatta Fahnbulleh (politician)|Miatta Fahnbulleh]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brett |first=Will |date=2017-10-11 |title=New Economics Foundation appoints Miatta Fahnbulleh as new CEO |url=https://neweconomics.org/2017/10/new-economics-foundation-appoints-miatta-fahnbulleh-new-ceo |access-date=2026-03-18 |website=New Economics Foundation |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Foster |first=Dawn |date=2017-10-31 |title=Miatta Fahnbulleh: ‘People’s tolerance for an unfair economic model has hit a buffer’ |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/oct/31/miatta-fahnbulleh-tolerance-unfair-economic-model-buffer |access-date=2026-03-18 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> |November 2017 – January 2024 |- |[[Dhananjayan Sriskandarajah]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-15 |title=New Economics Foundation appoints Dr Danny Sriskandarajah as new chief exec |url=https://neweconomics.org/2023/06/new-economics-foundation-appoints-dr-danny-sriskandarajah-as-new-chief-exec |access-date=2026-03-18 |website=New Economics Foundation |language=en}}</ref> |January 2024 – ''Present'' |}

== Publications == * [https://web.archive.org/web/20140222054056/http://www.britishcouncil.org/dk_d160_book_4_public_services_joe_penny.pdf ''Public services and (in)equality in an age of austerity'']. Joe Penny (July 2013). * [https://neweconomics.org/2012/12/where-does-money-come-from ''Where does money come from?'']. Andrew Jackson, Richard Werner, Tony Greenham and Josh Ryan-Collins (12 December 2012) * [https://web.archive.org/web/20130428040742/http://www.neweconomics.org/publications/growth-isnt-possible ''Growth isn't Possible: Why rich countries need a new economic direction'']. [[Andrew Simms]], Dr Victoria Johnson, Peter Chowla (25 January 2010). * [https://web.archive.org/web/20130429103706/http://www.neweconomics.org/publications/21-hours ''21 hours: Why a shorter working week can help us all to flourish in the 21st century'']. [[Anna Coote]], Andrew Simms and Jane Franklin (13 February 2010). * [https://web.archive.org/web/20140807141842/http://www.neweconomics.org/publications/entry/the-great-transition ''The Great Transition'']. Josh Ryan-Collins (18 October 2009). * [http://www.neweconomics.org/publications/entry/the-consumption-explosion ''The Consumption Explosion''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150217152917/http://www.neweconomics.org/publications/entry/the-consumption-explosion |date=17 February 2015 }}. Andrew Simms, Victoria Johnson, Joe Smith and Susanna Mitchell (24 September 2009). * [https://web.archive.org/web/20100210184715/http://www.neweconomics.org/publications/happy-planet-index ''The Happy Planet Index: An index of human well-being and environmental impact'']. Nic Marks, Saamah Abdallah, Andrew Simms and Sam Thompson (12 July 2006). * [https://web.archive.org/web/20130310020237/http://www.neweconomics.org/publications/clone-town-britain ''Clone Town Britain: The survey results on the bland state of the nation'']. Andrew Simms, Petra Kjell and Ruth Potts (6 June 2005).

== See also == * [[A Green New Deal]] * [[Coproduction of public services by service users and communities]] * [[Great Transition]] * [[List of UK think tanks]] * [[New Economy Coalition]] – sister organisation in America * [[New Economy Coalition#New Economy movement|New Economy movement]] * [[Open Source Ecology]] * [[Schumacher Circle]] organisations * [[Transition town]]

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == * {{Official website|http://www.neweconomics.org/}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20050907092433/http://www.instituteforphilanthropy.org.uk/re5.html "New Economics Foundation"]. ''The Philanthropy Atlas''. The [[Institute for Philanthropy]] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20041113122139/http://www.shef.ac.uk/~ebn/Whats_New/a_j2001/nef.html "New Index (Inner City 100) will Reward Inner City Innovations"]. [[University of Sheffield]] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20090926174209/http://www.happyplanetindex.org/ The Happy Planet Index] * [http://onehundredmonths.org/ One hundred months] * [https://nationaldebtlines.co.uk/citizens-advice-appointment/ Citizens Advice Appointment]

[[Category:Political and economic think tanks based in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Social economy in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Sustainability organizations]] [[Category:Political and economic research foundations]] [[Category:1986 establishments]]