Category - economics

The mortgage collapse and the poor

Phillip Blond — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 08:03:34 +0100

The threatened mortgage guarantee market in the US betokens an economic crisis, says Philip Blond. But the real tragedy - often overlooked - is the betrayal of Fannie Mae's original mission to house the poor.

Turning economics upside-down

Jonathan Bartley — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 02:47:52 +0000

What would happen if just a small proportion of the £1.25 trillion in consumer debt we all owe on was defaulted upon or suddenly called in? Jonathan Bartley looks at economic revolutions, and revolutionizing economics from the standpoint of the Gospel.

Challenging the neo-liberal paradigm

Simon Barrow — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 08:34:46 +0000

In a provocative short article in the International Herald Tribune newspaper, Phillip Blond argues that the dominant neo-liberal model of global economy is in crisis, and that both the political right and the political left have failed to understand the nature of the challenge this embodies.

Between Northern Rock and a hard place

Simon Barrow — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 13:38:27 +0000

The current fluster over how to solve the crisis at Northern Rock indicates the degree of economic fetishism surrounding privatisation and nationalisation.

Methodists launch 'buy less' credit card for Lent

staff writers — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 08:57:45 +0000

In a move that is designed as a challenge to "consumerism as usual" and a reminder of the dominance of money in our lives, the Methodist Church in Britain has launched an alternative Credit Card containing a "buy less" message.

Latin American and Caribbean faiths meet banks to talk anti-poverty action

agency reporter — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 09:51:08 +0000

Interfaith leaders from Latin America and the Caribbean have met with officials from three major global multilateral financial bodies to discuss ways of advancing the struggle for the MDGs and against poverty and inequality.

Summary: An economy worth believing in

Simon Barrow — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 16:34:10 +0100

A paper summarising some recent interventions from faith bodies on the debate about economy, globally and locally. It also highlights the historic links between Christian thought/action and oikonomia (the management of the household), some different stances on markets, and Ekklesia's own research paper, Is God bankrupt? - a response to a British and Irish churches' report on 'prosperity with a purpose'.

Simon Barrow

Neoliberal globalisation is the new slavery, say Reformed churches

Ecumenical News International — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 08:27:08 +0100

Leaders of the world's biggest grouping of Reformed churches have compared the effects of neoliberal economic globalisation to the transatlantic slave trade, and said that Christians need to combat this modern form of "enslavement".

Financial injustice is crippling Africa, says Christian Aid

staff writers — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 21:31:21 +0100

Billions of dollars are flooding out of Africa through ilicit means which have little to do with internal corruption, and which dwarf efforts at development assistance, says leading churches' agency Christian Aid.

The Ethics of Wealth Creation - The Moral Maze BBC Radio 4, 2nd March 2005

Press Office — Wed, 02 Mar 2005 13:09:31 +0000

Following Ekklesia's response to the report Prosperity with a Purpose, which looks at the morality and ethi