The Crises of Environment and Social Reproduction: Understanding their Linkages

In: Development dialogue, Heft 60, S. 175-197

Abstract

Drawing from the contributions of feminist economics and ecological economics, this paper explores the interconnection between the crisis of care and the deepening ecological crisis. It argues that there are crucial interdependence between the market economy and the reproductive economy and between the entire human (economic) system and the ecosystems that must be ardently addressed. Building on the extensive work of feminist economists and ecological economists, it demonstrates that an obsessive preoccupation on material economic growth in the economic paradigm inadequately address the care requirements of human maintenance and social reproduction and the vital dependence of human life on the ecosystem, but actively contributes to crisis creation and intensification. The paper also evaluates whether the mainstream economic solution of having 'more and better markets' can adequately address these crises. Finally, it provides an alternative framework based on feminist economics and ecological approaches, for developing gender-sensitive and environment-aware economic policies. Adapted from the source document.