Opinion | Decolonising economics means questioning where its ideas came from—and imagining new ones
Summary
Decolonising economics calls for questioning Eurocentric assumptions, colonial histories and extractive systems that shaped modern economic theory. The article argues for alternative models that prioritize people, communities, ecological sustainability and justice over profit maximization.
Key Points
- Mainstream economic ideas are presented as universal, but the article says they emerged from colonial and Eurocentric historical contexts.
- Decolonising economics means examining extraction, inequality and labor exploitation in wealthy economies and the Global South.
- The piece highlights alternative frameworks such as dependency theory, climate justice, debt cancellation, worker co-operatives and participatory budgeting.
- The author argues that economics should center human capabilities, social well-being and ecological sustainability rather than elite benefit.
