Laura Rayner
@lerayner.bsky.social
Senior Advisor to the European Policy Centre with focus on European social and economic policy, the development of a well-being economy, a just transition, future generations policymaking. Currently resident in Lilongwe, Malawi.
This is really excellent news, smart politics and I would hazard a guess that Ed Miliband has a hand in it #beyondGDP
Think this from playbook is a good reposition from Labour - a GDP growth target means very little to people (even more so if it’s unevenly distributed which has caused many of UK’s problems). Shifting the focus to living standards and what the growth is in aid matters much more.
December 2, 2024 at 8:49 AM
This is really excellent news, smart politics and I would hazard a guess that Ed Miliband has a hand in it #beyondGDP
My dear Leuven ❤️ glad others appreciate it as much as I do www.thetimes.com/travel/desti...
Belgium’s quieter under-the-radar alternative to Bruges
Lovely Leuven, outside Brussels, has everything you need for a festive city break: ancient architecture, cobbled streets, breweries … and there’s not a tourist in sight
www.thetimes.com
December 1, 2024 at 6:40 PM
My dear Leuven ❤️ glad others appreciate it as much as I do www.thetimes.com/travel/desti...
I do enjoy the period when European Commissioners are halfway out the door. The speeches and remarks are much more telling 😆 Here is Gentiloni on the new fiscal rules:
November 28, 2024 at 5:27 AM
I do enjoy the period when European Commissioners are halfway out the door. The speeches and remarks are much more telling 😆 Here is Gentiloni on the new fiscal rules:
How can countries meet the basic needs of their citizens without overburdening the 🌍’s ecosystems?
The mainstream economic paradigm is unfit to address this challenge, as it lacks a satisfactory description of how the economy is embedded within broader societal & environmental systems.
The mainstream economic paradigm is unfit to address this challenge, as it lacks a satisfactory description of how the economy is embedded within broader societal & environmental systems.
November 25, 2024 at 10:43 AM
How can countries meet the basic needs of their citizens without overburdening the 🌍’s ecosystems?
The mainstream economic paradigm is unfit to address this challenge, as it lacks a satisfactory description of how the economy is embedded within broader societal & environmental systems.
The mainstream economic paradigm is unfit to address this challenge, as it lacks a satisfactory description of how the economy is embedded within broader societal & environmental systems.
Reposted by Laura Rayner
Out of curiosity, am reading a bit about the market for farmland. This briefing is from January.
"Meanwhile, non-farmer buyers – who are a mix of private and institutional investors and lifestyle buyers – accounted for 56% of sales"
rural.struttandparker.com/article/engl...
"Meanwhile, non-farmer buyers – who are a mix of private and institutional investors and lifestyle buyers – accounted for 56% of sales"
rural.struttandparker.com/article/engl...
Agricultural land values in England reached a new record in 2023
Q4 2023 edition of Strutt & Parker’s English Estates & Farmland Market Review which shows that non-farmers bought more farms than farmers in 2023.
rural.struttandparker.com
November 21, 2024 at 10:26 AM
Out of curiosity, am reading a bit about the market for farmland. This briefing is from January.
"Meanwhile, non-farmer buyers – who are a mix of private and institutional investors and lifestyle buyers – accounted for 56% of sales"
rural.struttandparker.com/article/engl...
"Meanwhile, non-farmer buyers – who are a mix of private and institutional investors and lifestyle buyers – accounted for 56% of sales"
rural.struttandparker.com/article/engl...
The moon rising over Lake Malawi
November 22, 2024 at 8:55 AM
The moon rising over Lake Malawi
Reposted by Laura Rayner
Mothers are working more than in the past - but are still most impacted by childcare requirements.
On current progress, it would take until the 2220s to reach gender parity and close the gender parenting gap.
On current progress, it would take until the 2220s to reach gender parity and close the gender parenting gap.
November 21, 2024 at 3:00 PM
Mothers are working more than in the past - but are still most impacted by childcare requirements.
On current progress, it would take until the 2220s to reach gender parity and close the gender parenting gap.
On current progress, it would take until the 2220s to reach gender parity and close the gender parenting gap.
This fascinating MERGE project report presents the findings of survey & interview data which explored the significance of GDP in policymaking, the use of metrics, datasets and models, awareness of #beyondGDP concepts and the barriers and drivers of moving #beyondGDP.
mergeproject.eu/survey-report/
mergeproject.eu/survey-report/
A Survey Report on the Perceptions on Beyond-GDP Approach - MERGE
Achieving the 2030 Agenda and the EU’s policies on environmental and social sustainability requires a comprehensive measure of human progress […]
mergeproject.eu
November 21, 2024 at 2:22 PM
This fascinating MERGE project report presents the findings of survey & interview data which explored the significance of GDP in policymaking, the use of metrics, datasets and models, awareness of #beyondGDP concepts and the barriers and drivers of moving #beyondGDP.
mergeproject.eu/survey-report/
mergeproject.eu/survey-report/
#JUST4ALL project webinar today on empowering and engaging marginalised people in the #justtransition giving me an opportunity to talk about the wonderful Fair Energy Transition for All Project and its valuable lessons on integrating vulnerable people in policymaking fair-energy-transition.eu
Fair Energy Transition for All
Our project paves the way for more widely accepted climate policies by listening to those who are often left out of the debate.
fair-energy-transition.eu
November 19, 2024 at 9:52 AM
#JUST4ALL project webinar today on empowering and engaging marginalised people in the #justtransition giving me an opportunity to talk about the wonderful Fair Energy Transition for All Project and its valuable lessons on integrating vulnerable people in policymaking fair-energy-transition.eu
In Malawi, the letter L and the letter R are pretty much interchangeable. In one US election when Obama was elected, the front page of the national newspaper led with the headline, “The Great US Erection.” Shame that this time it is such a turn off.
November 6, 2024 at 6:10 PM
In Malawi, the letter L and the letter R are pretty much interchangeable. In one US election when Obama was elected, the front page of the national newspaper led with the headline, “The Great US Erection.” Shame that this time it is such a turn off.
It’s positive to see that Commissioner-Designate Executive Vice-President for People, Skills and Preparedness, Ms Roxana Minzatu has made commitments in her written answers for the Parliamentary hearings in November on #socialinvestment, especially in the context of the #EuropeanSemester.
October 27, 2024 at 12:01 PM
It’s positive to see that Commissioner-Designate Executive Vice-President for People, Skills and Preparedness, Ms Roxana Minzatu has made commitments in her written answers for the Parliamentary hearings in November on #socialinvestment, especially in the context of the #EuropeanSemester.
On the new 🇪🇺 European Commission structures, a few observations. First, it is positive that there is an effort to have cross-cutting themes which better recognises the complexity of policymaking. How this works in terms of DG oversight, cooperation and coordination remains to be seen.
September 17, 2024 at 2:50 PM
On the new 🇪🇺 European Commission structures, a few observations. First, it is positive that there is an effort to have cross-cutting themes which better recognises the complexity of policymaking. How this works in terms of DG oversight, cooperation and coordination remains to be seen.
In May, I moderated a roundtable looking at the desirability, feasibility and potential impact of a transformative indicators initiative aiming to overcome the pre-eminence of conventional socio-economic evaluations such as GDP. Here is the final report👇🏼
zenodo.org/records/1368...
zenodo.org/records/1368...
Report on transformative indicators initiatives for a sustainable wellbeing paradigm
Recognizing that each indicator set, or index emerges from specific initiatives with distinct goals, actors, and contexts, this research sets out to examine the initiatives themselves to uncover the b...
zenodo.org
September 14, 2024 at 5:56 AM
In May, I moderated a roundtable looking at the desirability, feasibility and potential impact of a transformative indicators initiative aiming to overcome the pre-eminence of conventional socio-economic evaluations such as GDP. Here is the final report👇🏼
zenodo.org/records/1368...
zenodo.org/records/1368...
You’ve been kidnapped. The characters from the last TV show you watched are trying to rescue you. Who is coming to save you?
I’m not sure whether this is good or bad…
I’m not sure whether this is good or bad…
September 6, 2024 at 11:41 AM
You’ve been kidnapped. The characters from the last TV show you watched are trying to rescue you. Who is coming to save you?
I’m not sure whether this is good or bad…
I’m not sure whether this is good or bad…
Such an interesting policy dialogue today @EPC, part of the ToBe Horizon Europe project. It looked at historical efforts of sustainable, forward-looking policymaking, current examples and expectations for the UN Summit of the Future. Watch here👇🏼
eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...
eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...
Planning for the future: Lessons in sustainable policymaking from past and current economies
Planning for the future: Lessons in sustainable policymaking from past and current economies
eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com
September 5, 2024 at 6:18 PM
Such an interesting policy dialogue today @EPC, part of the ToBe Horizon Europe project. It looked at historical efforts of sustainable, forward-looking policymaking, current examples and expectations for the UN Summit of the Future. Watch here👇🏼
eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...
eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...
This is simultaneously a deeply uncomfortable read and a very important one by Adam Tooze on.ft.com/3AIoqJm
Rich countries tilt the scales when it comes to aid
Large-scale western support for Ukraine contrasts with smaller efforts for poor countries that are in dire need
on.ft.com
September 3, 2024 at 9:38 AM
This is simultaneously a deeply uncomfortable read and a very important one by Adam Tooze on.ft.com/3AIoqJm
August 27, 2024 at 9:30 AM
The supermarket in Lilongwe city centre might need to update its magazine offerings at some point
August 26, 2024 at 1:17 PM
The supermarket in Lilongwe city centre might need to update its magazine offerings at some point
Might not look like much to you but this earned me a spontaneous round of applause. You try drawing a portrait of someone with the paper held on the top of your head!
lerayner.wordpress.com/2024/08/23/a...
lerayner.wordpress.com/2024/08/23/a...
August 23, 2024 at 5:07 PM
Might not look like much to you but this earned me a spontaneous round of applause. You try drawing a portrait of someone with the paper held on the top of your head!
lerayner.wordpress.com/2024/08/23/a...
lerayner.wordpress.com/2024/08/23/a...
This is wonderful to see. Well done Australia!
“We certainly can and should be walking and chewing gum at the same time and doing things to address immediate issues as well as thinking about the long term [about people’s wellbeing],” Smith said.
www.themandarin.com.au/253195-austr...
“We certainly can and should be walking and chewing gum at the same time and doing things to address immediate issues as well as thinking about the long term [about people’s wellbeing],” Smith said.
www.themandarin.com.au/253195-austr...
Australia inching toward a fully-fledged ‘measuring what matters’ approach with live dashboard
A new wellbeing dashboard giving government insights into areas such as community connection has now been released into the public service wilderness.
www.themandarin.com.au
August 23, 2024 at 6:13 AM
This is wonderful to see. Well done Australia!
“We certainly can and should be walking and chewing gum at the same time and doing things to address immediate issues as well as thinking about the long term [about people’s wellbeing],” Smith said.
www.themandarin.com.au/253195-austr...
“We certainly can and should be walking and chewing gum at the same time and doing things to address immediate issues as well as thinking about the long term [about people’s wellbeing],” Smith said.
www.themandarin.com.au/253195-austr...
Reposted by Laura Rayner
The Short History of an Old Idea - why the British and other western governments continue to cling to flawed fiscal rules rather than embrace the transparency that comes with accrual accounting and a focus on net worth. My latest
open.substack.com/pub/nixons/p...
open.substack.com/pub/nixons/p...
The Short History of an Old Idea
If focusing on net worth is such a good idea, why are governments not doing it already? Why do politicians cling to obviously flawed fiscal rules? My answer to a reasonable question from readers
open.substack.com
August 22, 2024 at 9:46 AM
The Short History of an Old Idea - why the British and other western governments continue to cling to flawed fiscal rules rather than embrace the transparency that comes with accrual accounting and a focus on net worth. My latest
open.substack.com/pub/nixons/p...
open.substack.com/pub/nixons/p...
Returning from holiday to immediately dive into Ursula von der Leyen's political guidelines has been a bit of a crash landing back into work mode but it is encouraging to see so many important elements included, many of which can be found in the MERGE paper published a few weeks ago.
August 20, 2024 at 11:41 AM
Returning from holiday to immediately dive into Ursula von der Leyen's political guidelines has been a bit of a crash landing back into work mode but it is encouraging to see so many important elements included, many of which can be found in the MERGE paper published a few weeks ago.
As part of ToBe and MERGE projects, this paper sets out an agenda which steers the EU towards sustainable and inclusive wellbeing, moving us out of our current cycle of permacrisis, building a more resilient, secure and stable EU.
www.epc.eu/en/publicati...
www.epc.eu/en/publicati...
A European Agenda to Navigate Uncertain Times
A European Agenda to Navigate Uncertain Times
www.epc.eu
August 20, 2024 at 11:39 AM
As part of ToBe and MERGE projects, this paper sets out an agenda which steers the EU towards sustainable and inclusive wellbeing, moving us out of our current cycle of permacrisis, building a more resilient, secure and stable EU.
www.epc.eu/en/publicati...
www.epc.eu/en/publicati...
Proud to have contributed to this bible of EU social policy with Tommaso Grossi on the socio-ecological dimension of the Green Deal Industrial Plan:
'Social policy in the European Union: state of play 2023
An ambitious implementation of the Social Pillar'
📘 etui.org/Z7x
#EU #SocialEurope #EPSR
'Social policy in the European Union: state of play 2023
An ambitious implementation of the Social Pillar'
📘 etui.org/Z7x
#EU #SocialEurope #EPSR
August 20, 2024 at 11:34 AM
Proud to have contributed to this bible of EU social policy with Tommaso Grossi on the socio-ecological dimension of the Green Deal Industrial Plan:
'Social policy in the European Union: state of play 2023
An ambitious implementation of the Social Pillar'
📘 etui.org/Z7x
#EU #SocialEurope #EPSR
'Social policy in the European Union: state of play 2023
An ambitious implementation of the Social Pillar'
📘 etui.org/Z7x
#EU #SocialEurope #EPSR
The #GreenDeal in times of #polycrisis: Aligning short-term responses with long-term commitments✒️
Read it here 👇
www.epc.eu/en/publicati...
Read it here 👇
www.epc.eu/en/publicati...
The Green Deal in times of polycrisis: Aligning short-term responses with long-term commitments
The Green Deal in times of polycrisis: Aligning short-term responses with long-term commitments
www.epc.eu
August 20, 2024 at 11:30 AM
The #GreenDeal in times of #polycrisis: Aligning short-term responses with long-term commitments✒️
Read it here 👇
www.epc.eu/en/publicati...
Read it here 👇
www.epc.eu/en/publicati...