Local Author Launches Book on Environmental Economics
Donald Power is a member of Ealing Friends of the Earth
Rupa Huq MP (left) at the book launch with Donald Power (right)
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February 6, 2025
A new book by a local author on the dilemma presented by a faltering global economy at a time when the world faces huge challenges due to climate change has been launched this week.
‘An Economy of Want’ has been written by Donald Power, who is a member of Ealing Friends of the Earth (FoE). His book looks at the economics behind two interlocking global crises. One being the problem of providing decent livelihoods (jobs, housing, basic public services), and the other, the imperative to take urgent action on the environment.
At an event held last Friday (31 January) a discussion about the book and the issues it raises was held at the West London Trade Union Club on Acton High Street. Co-hosted by Ealing FoE, it was chaired by Dr Rupa Huq, the MP for Ealing Central and Acton.
Mr Power says, “Many alternative economics books tell us what we ‘ought’ to do – for example that we ought not grow GDP forever because it will wreck the environment. But none of us get out of bed thinking ‘I have to grow GDP today’ – we’re thinking about how to earn a living and pay the
rent. So this book is different: it aims to give a realistic description of how the economy actually operates now (and what drives it and us) ... on the principle that if you don’t understand how something works, you can’t hope to fix it.”
‘An Economy of Want’ is available on Amazon with the e-book being occasionally free to download. More details including dates when the e-book is free and local bookshops that stock the paperback, are on the book’s website.
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