Remembering John, Richard and David

 By Ennor

The past year may have been a great twelve months for the development of the new economics, but it also coincided with the loss of two figures who have been absolutely critical to its development. 

David Fleming died a year ago. Only a couple of weeks ago, we had the very sad news that we have also lost Richard Douthwaite. Now we hear that the great social enterprise pioneer John Pearce has died too.

Richard has been an extraordinary pioneer, from his work on the future of money to his development of the Irish new economics think-tank Feasta. 

But is for two books, in particular, that he will always be remembered. The Growth Illusion (1992) lifted the lid on the bizarre and destructive idea at the heart of the old economics – unlimited growth. Then Short Circuit (1996) described the emerging institutions and ideas of the new economics across the globe. 

nef was involved in the publication of Short Circuit and it provided a blueprint for our work for the next five years, including hugely influential books like Communities Count and Participation Works. 

I remember the book launch at our offices in Whitechapel, the first time I ever met Richard, it was absolutely packed and there was a sense abroad that some major milestone had been reached, and – as it turned out – it had.

John Pearce was a huge influence on nef in its early days, and later on our social audit team, but especially his pioneering work in Glasgow developing the idea of social enterprises. Social enterprises are now at the heart of the government's strategy for public services - not without flaws or teething problems, but with huge impact and the promise of a great deal more.

I have also now been sent the most extraordinary book by Richard’s contemporary David Fleming.  His book Lean Logic is huge and sprawling dictionary of not just of the new economics, but te business of winning the argument for it. 

It is witty, sprawling, witty, imaginative, wise and absolutely uncategorisable. Nobody has ever written a book quite like it, and it is an amazing testament to its author.