Welcome
We are ONE. The Our New Economy (ONE) Foundation is an independent think tank based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Our mission is to disseminate the economic thinking needed to foster an economy that ensures a high quality of life for all, within the ecological boundaries of our planet.
Embracing and disseminating the current paradigm shift in economic thinking, ONE recognizes that economics is about more than just money and growth—it encompasses diverse perspectives on humanity and nature. This transformative mindset begins in education. Our project scope includes secondary education, tertiary education and lifelong learning.
Vision
We see a global economy that provides a good life for everyone, within the ecological boundaries of the earth, for present and future generations.
Mission
The mission of ONE is to inspire, connect and positively influence the important actors in education, the government, business life and society in general. We do this to help transform our society into a solidary and sustainable economy.
We do this together with scientists and practitioners who build and distribute the knowledge and tools we use, to create a new economic policy that can be put into practice.
Our Approach
ONE is committed to reforming economics education across the spectrum. Current curricula often lean towards a dominant neoclassical theory. Believing that neoclassical economics is valuable but not nearly enough, ONE advocates for a more diverse perspective: pluralism. It is crucial to introduce students to various economic theories that consider different aspects of our economic systems, be it from a human, ecological, or well-being standpoint.
Addressing today’s pressing issues like sustainability, climate change, and social inequality, our aim is to prompt critical thinking among students. We aspire to equip them with the skills to navigate rapidly changing times and tackle urgent societal challenges. Working closely with education professionals in the field, we provide support to teachers and instructors by offering both high-level curriculum design frameworks and practical materials, such as lesson plans and workshops.
Our History
ONE was founded in 2017 under the umbrella of the Sustainable and Solidary Economy Platform (Platform DSE). Collaborating with students from Rethinking Economics Netherlands, we secured initial funding and started chipping away at reshaping economics education in the Netherlands. We published a critical review of current programs in Thinking like an Economist in 2018 and the internationally acclaimed book and website Economy Studies: A Guide to Rethinking Economics Education in 2021. In 2022, we co-founded the yearly national Week of Economics Education.
Secondary Education
At the secondary education level, we have two main projects. In the current secondary school economics curriculum, there is a prevailing focus on scarcity, market dynamics, measuring prosperity through GDP and mathematical, technique-only approaches. This means students miss out on a range of important insights. Since the majority of the curriculum is fixed at the national level, we provide ready-to-teach lesson packs for those teachers who don’t want to wait for curriculum reform until they start teaching more relevant economics. However, for the long run we believe in more structural curriculum reform, which we contribute to through our white paper for a new curriculum.
Universities for Applied Science
ONE is actively engaged in creating future-proof economics education for programs such as Commercial Economics, International Business, Business Administration, and Finance & Control. We are developing a framework based on existing and applied future-proof theories and models within the higher education sector. The goal is to share and disseminate this knowledge, inspiring educators and providing materials and ideas for integrating new economic thinking into higher education economics courses.
In collaboration with the higher education field, we invite educators to share their ideas, tips, and teaching materials with our advisors to contribute to making higher education economics future-proof. We play a networking role in the field and frequently organise workshops to connect forerunners with one another.
We are currently developing a practical guide aimed at economic programs in higher education. The guide includes a gap analysis of current programs, a vision for the field’s development, contacts with pioneers, new learning materials, and a framework for curriculum design. This project focuses on key areas within the economic domain, such as management, logistics, marketing, accounting, etc.
Research Universities
For the research university level, we develop comprehensive lesson packages and high-level curriculum scans. We have also written the internationally acclaimed book and website Economy Studies: A Guide to Rethinking Economics Education. Developed in collaboration with the global student movement Rethinking Economics, the book provides a framework of 10 building blocks for modern economist education. Serving as a practical roadmap, “Economy Studies” connects academic theory with everyday events and major societal issues, bringing about a paradigm shift in economic education.
Our Network
As a think tank and network organization, ONE relies on partners and ambassadors to achieve its mission. We are proud to be the driving force behind two networks: the Dutch Economic Think Tank Network (NED) and the New Economics Education Network (NEEN). Additionally, we are a member of the international Wellbeing Economy Alliance (WEAll), a collaborative effort to transform the economic system. We also run projects together with Leerlevels, an innovative digital-first teaching materials publisher, and the Sunflower Foundation, a Swiss think tank focusing on disseminating pluralist economic thought.
Fellows at ONE
Our network of Fellows, comprised of practical and academic scholars, supports our mission. Working from their own locations, organizations, or companies, Fellows contribute ideas, papers, practices, and practical questions. ONE aids in sharing their work with the public and facilitating collaboration for mutual benefit. If you are a fellow educator, researcher, or practitioner who shares our vision, we invite you to join our network and contribute to shaping a New Economy.
At ONE, we envision a future where economic education transcends boundaries, fostering critical thinkers and responsible leaders. Join us in reshaping the economic landscape for a sustainable and inclusive world.
If you would like to receive more information, please contact us
