The Democracy Collaborative heads to Scotland
As part of our global work on community wealth building (CWB) and movement building, our President, Ted Howard, will be on a fact finding and advisory trip to Scotland, UK. Scotland is at the UK and European forefront on community wealth building, with CWB a key part of the Scottish Government’s economic transformation programme.
“Give them the Amtrak treatment”: Growing calls for widespread nationalization
Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in the United States, calls for nationalization of various industries—from the airlines and Big Pharma to the energy grid, hospitals, and entire supply chains—have erupted from even the unlikeliest proponents.
All health is public health: Busting the myths of choice and commodity
For decades, we have been sold a myth of private health. It is a myth that our health is largely a product of individual choices and personal responsibilities. It is a myth that our healthcare is a service that private corporations can provide, and for which we must pay to survive.
A look back: planning for public ownership as an alternative to corporate bailouts
The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and response from state and federal regulators serves as an urgent reminder that the U.S. banking system remains overly-financialized and fragile and poses a continuing systemic risk to the American and global economies.
¿Cómo se practica la CRC?
Las crisis que enfrentamos son impulsadas por la naturaleza extractiva de nuestro sistema actual—la concentración de tenencia de los bienes, la desinversión de las comunidades, los ataques al trabajador, la degradación del medio ambiente, y el racismo estructural.
¿Dónde se está creando la riqueza comunitaria?
Las raíces modernas de la CRC datan desde el New Deal (los programas del Nuevo Trato del Presidente Roosevelt) hasta el movimiento de los derechos civiles, e incluso en muchos de sus aspectos estos principios, de tenencia colectiva de los bienes, datan desde mucho antes.
Public Pharmaceuticals: A State-Based Solution to Sky-High Drug Costs
Prescription drugs in the United States cost way too much, nearly double, in fact, what they cost in other wealthy nations. The pharmaceutical companies that make them, and that rake in the profits from their sale, argue that we must pay those prices in order to support the world class research required to develop the drugs.
New report offers recommendations to advance Community Wealth Building in Northern Ireland
This new report holds out the prospect of a very different developmental path for Ireland, North and South—one capable of truly delivering for its people and communities.
Community Wealth Building goes down under!
Across the world Community Wealth Building(CWB) is growing. And through our global network and development activity, TDC is ready to assist and help administrations and locations in their development of CWB. So with a packed range of engagements, I recently undertook a 2 week advisory tour of Australia. I found a significant enthusiasm for CWB with some exciting activities taking place.
A look ahead
I am excited about the future of TDC because we have strong, credible answers to the questions many are pondering: How can we operate the economy in a way that more people can equitably benefit from the wealth that is created? How can we effectively bring more voices and influence to bear by those who have been left out of decisions that impact the public good? I look forward to helping TDC answer those questions and enhancing the organization’s reach and impact in many ways.
A word from our Founder
The Democracy Collaborative’s work is as essential today as it was when Gar Alperovitz and I founded it 22 years ago as an academic research center at the University of Maryland, College Park. Both Gar and I are immensely proud of TDC’s accomplishments and enthusiastic about its future as we turn the organization over to a new generation of brilliant, talented leaders who are poised and ready to take TDC into an exciting new phase of its work. We know that TDC’s brightest days are ahead.
The Preston Model ten years on: Community Wealth Building is an unstoppable movement
Ten years ago what's become known as 'The Preston Model' got it's start with a learning exchange, a desire for radical change, and maybe even a few beers! Here, leader of the Preston City Council, Matthew Brown, reflects on what's gone into it, the hard work still to come, and the movement it's spurred in the UK.
The regenerative economy: the real prescription patients need
Our healthcare sector has become highly financialized. To meet the demands of investors for swift and high returns, Wall Street has found that making money from money is quicker and easier than making money from long-term investments in the infrastructure, maintenance, and human resources so desperately needed to provide high-quality services in a sector like healthcare. For the sake of patients, this must change.
Employee Ownership Transitions: Lessons from the Field
The ICA Group has been a catalyst for multiple ownership transitions that have had real impact on the lives of workers. Here are some lessons from the field in the journey of employee ownership transition.
California Passes Employee Ownership Act: Lessons from an Advocacy Campaign
California becomes the second state to embed an employee ownership office in state government. Here is a breakdown of what this means for California and the lessons learned along the way.
The New Systems Reader: A 'landmark book' for an unprecedented time
The recognition is growing: truly addressing the problems of the 21st century requires going beyond small tweaks and modest reforms to business as usual—it requires "changing the system." But what does this mean? And what would it entail?
A Celebration of Community Wealth Building in Scotland
We were on hand as the local authority of North Ayrshire in the West of Scotland hosted the first Community Wealth Building Conference.
Four steps toward reclaiming public medicine for public health
Far too many people have suffered and died because our medicines and medical products system was not prepared to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic with prompt and universal access to reliable tests, treatments, and vaccines.
Supporting energy democracy through a Green New Deal
The Green New Deal is a plan to tackle the connected crises of climate change and inequality. One major goal of the Green New Deal is to achieve 100% decarbonized energy. But, far beyond reducing carbon, a Green New Deal would invest in projects