During the past decade WAAS convened an international working group and conducted five international conferences on the need for radical change in economic theory and public policy. Current economic theory and policy are rooted in flawed neoliberal economic dogma which must be challenged in order to effect and sustain fundamental change in economic policy. The project has documented the dire need for new thinking and action to address the pressing problem of unemployment in the world today. This includes recognising full employment as a fundamental human right. An integrated social theory of employment is needed to provide the essential foundation for more effective practices. It is necessary to examine existing perspectives and evolve a more inclusive theoretical framework that more effectively harnesses unutilized potential to fulfill unmet social needs.

“The right to employment in a market economy is the economic equivalent of the right to vote in democracy.”

Global Leadership for the 21st C.

Dec 15-16, 2021

An international conference organized by the United Nations Office at Geneva, the World Academy of Art & Science and other partner organizations to identify and explore cross-sectoral catalytic strategies and practical suggestions for addressing the complex nexus of global leadership challenges the world faces today.

Global Employment Challenge

Aug 24, 2020

In search of global solutions, catalytic initiatives and transformative strategies, NGIC and WAAS conducted a special virtual session on Employment with particular emphasis on the need for full employment programs. This meeting gathered leading thinkers and policy makers to discuss scalable solutions.

Education For Entrepreneurship

Jun 19, 2020

The panel “Education for Employment and Entrepreneurship” in the WAAS-UN GL-21 conference “Strategies for Transformative Global Leadership” on June 15, 2020 examined changes in the global system of education needed to promote employment and entrepreneurship.

The Future of Full employment

Jun 19, 2020

This panel titled “The Future of Full employment: Towards a New Social Contract” in the WAAS-UN GL-21 conference “Strategies for Transformative Global Leadership” on June 15, 2020 examined strategies for moving economies to full employment and the financial mechanisms available for doing so in a fiscally responsible manner.

New Economic Policy Platform

Jun 20, 2020

This panel titled “New Growth Model and Economic Policy Platform” in the WAAS-UN GL-21 conference “Strategies for Transformative Global Leadership” on June 18, 2020 examined the justification for challenging fundamental premises in prevailing neoliberal economic thought and policy.

Published Articles

New Economic Theory

Changing the economic policies that are generating high levels of unemployment and widening inequality is not possible without first changing the erroneous economic theories on which the world economy is currently functioning. A change in thinking can lead to a radical change in action. This is the rationale for the project on New Economic Theory initiated in collaboration with more than a dozen leading institutions for the constitution of the NET Working Group. The objective is to harness the best available ideas and practices to create a comprehensive framework for human-centred economy and to develop compelling educational and communication tools with the power to alter university level education, public policy, business decisions, media coverage and general public opinion regarding how global economy should work for the betterment of all humanity.

Global Employment Challenge

Access to employment is the most essential requirement for providing economic security to the world’s burgeoning population. This interdisciplinary dialogue explores theoretical and practical aspects of the global employment challenge, including its demographic, economic, legal, political, psychological dimensions as well as linkages with the international financial crisis, social stability, and terrorism.

Introduction, Scope & Issues
Report on GEC
Conference Papers
Questions & Topics

EVENTS