Part 1: Bioregional Economics as Concept and Practice (50 points)

For this part of the exam, please read the book chapter "The Bioregional Economy: Celebrating the Local in Production and Consumption" by Molly Scott Cato from The Routledge Handbook of Ecological Economics. The chapter is available here:

https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:10d3a007-7a20-3983-bdbc-d97dbcceba3d

Dr. Cato is a professor and politician in Europe who believes the only way to achieve a sustainable economy is to return to (mostly) local-scale economies. I want to know what you think about this idea.

Step 1: Read the chapter and take notes about the main ideas behind bioregionalism (including its definition, justifications, and challenges). Hint: proponents of bioregional economics believe that society will never be able to sustainably replace the energy provided by fossil fuels with renewable energy, and they are okay with that!

Step 2: Explore the website TransitionNetwork.org and consider the ways that the Transition Towns movement is an attempt to implement bioregional economics.

Step 3: Write an essay that defines bioregional economics (including its justifications and challenges) and assesses the effort of Transition Towns to implement it. If you're feeling extra motivated, you can also discuss the crossovers between bioregional economics and doughnut economics. Overall, however, my main objective is for you to think deeply about what YOUR LIFE would be like if society drastically scaled down the geographic range of our economic activities.

Part 2: Expand Your Knowledge and Get Inspired (50 points)

watch an online documentary about bottom-up efforts to create a more sustainable economy in Canada. As you will see, there are many people applying the principles of doughnut economics through their everyday work and lives. I hope you find the film inspiring.

Link to the film: https://youtu.be/t6PcP1l_hLM

Step 1: Find a time and place where you can watch the entire video in one sitting (about 90 minutes) and really focus on it.

Step 2: Watch the video and take notes, either written or typed.

Step 3: From your notes, pull out the five most interesting or inspiring ideas/examples that you viewed in the film and write about them. Why do they speak to you as good strategies for making our economies more sustainable? Do you find any of the ideas/examples presented in the film problematic?