Developments in the Schumacher ethos

Abstract

This paper reviews the work of E. F. Schumacher, who was a great economist, environmentalist and alternative thinker. He was a seminal influence for the creation of many organisations in the UK that are thriving and increasingly relevant as we appreciate the value of living local, personal, simple, organic, spiritual, integrated and appropriately scaled lives. His influence is considered through four reflective principles (appropriateness, non-violence, spirituality and simplification) and three active ones (local action, simplicity and the integration of the inner and the outer).The consequences of his philosophy are briefly considered in the world of accountancy where mechanisms to include environmental and social factors are often poor. The rise of so-called ‘conscience economics’ may provide ways to redress this imbalance. Can we discover new instruments to complement philanthropy, fair trade, offsetting and other ways to pay the full externalities that are traditionally ignored?

Citation

Roderick, I. (2009), "Developments in the Schumacher ethos", Saravanamuthu, K. and Lehman, C.R. (Ed.) Extending Schumacher's Concept of Total Accounting and Accountability into the 21st Century (Advances in Public Interest Accounting, Vol. 14), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 15-23. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1041-7060(2009)0000014005