The Foundational Economy

FE and ecological limits

This research stream connects foundational issues with the urgent realities of accelerating climate and ecological breakdown. Environmental pressures amplify social vulnerabilities, while social precarity makes it harder for society to take the collective steps needed to respond to ecological emergencies. 

The foundational economy offers a productive entry point for thinking about how we meet the needs of both people and planet – now and over the coming decades – in ways that are fair, resilient, and mutually reinforcing. Aligning with other progressive agendas such as Universal Basic Services (UBS), it emphasises that meeting shared human needs depends on collectively organised systems of provision which, when oriented towards social purpose rather than profit, become more affordable, secure, and accessible. But collectively organised systems are also better for the planet because collective infrastructures can deliver wellbeing with far lower material and energy demands. 

How can we (re)build shared, publicly accountable systems of provision that work for both people and planet? This challenge goes beyond individual consumption choices and instead raises questions about who owns and controls the infrastructures we collectively depend on. By addressing the deeper structures that make essential services expensive, unequal, and environmentally harmful, the foundational approach points toward an economy in which people have democratic control over the systems that sustain everyday life.

Discover more in the references below.

To join the conversation: r.barnthaler@leeds.ac.uk 

Readings: 

  • Bärnthaler, R. (2025) Foundational Economy. In: Vocabulary for Sustainable Consumption and Lifestyles. London: Routledge. Available at: https://tinyurl.com/3tnm5k8h.