What it is
Kate Raworth's 2017 book introduces a visual framework for 21st-century economics: a doughnut-shaped diagram where the outer ring represents planetary boundaries and the inner ring represents the social foundation no one should fall below. The space between is the safe and just operating zone for humanity. It has been adopted by Amsterdam, Brussels, and other cities as a policy framework.
Why we picked this
This is the single best starting point for understanding why the green transition is an economic argument, not just an environmental one. Raworth dismantles the growth-at-all-costs model with clarity and replaces it with something actionable. Cities and businesses are already building on this framework.
Key takeaways
- GDP growth is not a reliable measure of human wellbeing or environmental health. The doughnut model measures what actually matters.
- Amsterdam became the first city to officially adopt doughnut economics as a policy guide during the COVID-19 recovery, followed by more than 70 communities worldwide.
- The framework identifies 12 social foundations (food, health, education, etc.) and 9 planetary boundaries (climate change, ocean acidification, etc.) that together define a safe operating space.