Oikos (Economy, Ecology, Ecumene, and Ethics for Our Time)

A new ethics for our time that powerfully illuminates how the quest for human happiness is inextricable from the quest for global well-being—from the world-renowned economist and New York Times bestselling author of The End of Poverty

What will make our lives worthwhile and make us proud to be human beings?

The Greek word oikos has a double meaning: household and by extension, the family inside that household. Here, Jeffrey D. Sachs expands that concept to the global family, using three words that take their root from oikos—economy, our wealth and resources; ecology, our relationships with our environment and our fellow organisms; and ecumene, the structures of our civilization— as the pillars on which we build a brighter global future.

Drawing on both ancient and contemporary learnings, from economists like Adam Smith and John Maynard Keynes, politicians like President John F. Kennedy, and philosophers like Aristotle and Confucius, as well as case studies from his storied career, Sachs presents an argument for a more holistic approach to governance and the international community. Making a case against more individualistic narratives, he posits that the United States cannot thrive alone under the threat of potentially catastrophic technological advancements, rapidly advancing climate collapse, dramatically shifting geopolitics, and civilizational clash. But if we make choices in service of the global oikos, leading with the Greek virtues of justice and moderation in the pursuit of wealth and pleasure, we have the ability to usher in an era of abundance and peace for all.

There is no separating economics from politics, history, ethics, geography, ecology, nor any other human concern—they are inextricably linked, and in Oikos, Sachs provides clear, incisive analysis at a macro and micro scale into how to use their intersections to find solutions to complex social challenges.