While the term care economy is arguably an oxymoron, Tim Jackson, best-selling author of Prosperity without Growth and renowned ecological economist, is exploring what an economy that had care at its centre might look like in his latest offering.
The result is a book that brings together economics, medicine, Greek mythology, and much more, creating a fascinating exploration of history, capitalism, and Jackson’s own health issues. The Mint caught up with Jackson to gain a better understanding of the book’s origins and key ideas.
Key points
Origins and Framing of “The Care Economy”
- Evolved from ideas in “Prosperity Without Growth” about low-impact, quality-of-life focused economic activities
- Deliberately written in accessible style, avoiding academic/policy jargon
- Title initially felt problematic to Jackson but grew on him as a provocative framing
- Positions care as central to economy, challenging typical “hard” economic concepts
Care and Health Systems
- Explores historical shift from holistic “care” approaches to biochemical “cure” focus in medicine
- Argues pharmaceutical/healthcare industries became growth-driven, often at odds with true care
- Presents disease as part of body’s restorative processes, challenging purely negative framing
- Critiques over-reliance on pharmaceutical interventions vs. addressing root causes
Food Systems and Care
- Traces how post-WWII food industry prioritized cheap calories and profitability over health
- Describes scientific engineering of “irresistible” foods optimized for consumption, not nutrition
- Links ultra-processed foods to chronic disease epidemic, framing as systemic issue beyond individual choice
Symbolic Health and Care
- Introduces concept of “symbolic health” relating to mental wellbeing, self-esteem
- Cautions that pursuit of symbolic health can lead to problematic behaviors if divorced from balance-seeking care ethic
- Uses Trump as example of potentially destructive pursuit of symbolic health through power accumulation
Care as Restorative Balance
- Defines true care as processes that restore balance, physiologically and societally
- Contrasts with actions that may claim to be “care” but create imbalance (e.g. arms races justified as “defense”)
- Positions this balance-seeking definition as key to avoiding misuse of care concept
