A quest for a sustainable and equitable society
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Abstract
This dissertation examines the intertwined ecological and social crises perpetuated by the capitalist mode of production and proposes a transformative path toward a sustainable and just society. Grounded in critiques of capitalism and its incompatibility with environmental sustainability and social justice, this work bridges the theoretical insights with actionable policy proposals. Drawing on Modern Money Theory (MMT), ecological economics, Marxist ecology and radical political feminism, it reconceptualizes money as a social institution capable of fostering alternative systems of provisioning and explores community currency-powered job guarantee (JG) programs as a locally adaptable solution and a transformative tool for systemic change. It begins with a critical analysis of capitalism’s foundational features—market-oriented commodity production, private ownership of the means of production, wage dependency, and individualistic acquisitive behavior, and establishes the core premise that the economy is embedded within the environment and functions as a mechanism of social provisioning. The second chapter delves deeper into the theoretical incompatibilities between capitalism and sustainability, drawing from ecological economics, Marxist ecology, and heterodox economic perspectives. By critiquing capitalism’s reliance on perpetual growth, profit maximization, and commodification, it underscores the urgent need for alternatives. Chapter three presents a case study of Ningxia’s ecological immigration program as an embryonic example of a job guarantee initiative. This analysis introduces Job Guarantee literature, highlighting the program’s strengths and limitations while providing a contextual lens for understanding the practical challenges and opportunities of implementing JG programs at local levels. The final chapter synthesizes these insights into a proposal for community currency-powered job guarantee programs. Positioned at the meso-institutional level, these programs mobilize underutilized resources, foster economic localization, and redefine meaningful work to include domestic and care labor. Such initiatives challenge the profit-driven dynamics of traditional economic systems and promote a culture of reciprocity, sustainability and equity. This dissertation concludes by linking macro-level goals with community-driven action, and reimagining an economic framework capable of fostering resilience, justice, and sustainability in the face of our social and environmental challenges today.
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Introduction -- Beyond growth: can capitalism evolve sustainably -- Ningxias ecological immigration program: an embryonic employer of last resort program -- Community currency powered job guarantee: a social provisioning of full employment, sustainability, and gender equity
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Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy)