"[Q]uestions the very foundations of our current economic model and asks what a truly sustainable economy could look like." Maya Kocian, Exec Dir, Earth Economics

"Change the system, not the climate" is a common demand in the climate movement. But what kind of system do we actually want? In the midst of humanity's worst crisis, there are pioneers standing ready. Meet the new economic perspectives that have the potential to change the world at its core.

The original meaning of the word "economy" is "household management." The economy of today, however, is not householding but rather consuming our finite natural resources at an alarming pace.

OUTGROW THE SYSTEM explores how we can return to the essence of the term and design an economic system that genuinely manages our scarce resources. Beyond the narrow mainstream debate and the teachings of business schools, numerous new economic ideas and practices are emerging. Amongst those new economic ideas explored in the film are Doughnut Economics, Degrowth, Economic Democracy, Participatory Economy, Not-for-Profit World, Wellbeing Economy Alliance (WEAll). They challenge old assumptions and offer fresh perspectives on how we can reorganize our production and consumption to ensure our survival as a species on this planet.



Grade Level: 10 - 12, College, Adults
US Release Date: 2025     Copyright Date: 2023
DVD ISBN: 1-961192-47-0

Reviews "This provocative and illuminating film asks the right questions: Why can't we stop the destruction of planet earth? Why do we have so much poverty in the midst of plenty? Why can't we prioritize well-being over corporate profits? Why hasn't economic growth allowed us to shorten the workweek? If economics is all about managing scarce resources, why aren't we economizing on resource use? Outgrow the System details alternative approaches to an economics that face up to the immense and complex challenges humanity faces." L. Randall Wray, Professor and Senior Scholar, Levy Economics Institute of Bard College, Author, A Great Leap Forward: Heterodox Economic Policy for the 21st Century "Our current economic system needs to change fundamentally in order to safeguard human and planetary wellbeing. With a skillful integration of economic theory and real-world practice, Outgrow the System gives us concrete, actionable ideas for implementing change." Laura Schmitt Olabisi, Professor of Community Sustainability, Michigan State University "Outgrow the System bluntly recognizes that the global, capitalist economy is both failing to serve people's needs and ruining the very ecological systems that life depends on. It presents alternative economic and governance approaches that seek to redress these failings and succeeds in making these economic theories accessible to all. This film encourages us to question the status quo. We can be less intimidated by the complexity of the system and the powerful few controlling it." Tanja Srebotnjak, Director, Zilkha Center for Environmental Initiatives, Williams College "In compelling interviews with leading scholar-activists, artfully interspersed with illustrative images, Outgrow the System convincingly explains how our current economic system has lost the way. This film offers a compelling vision of a far more desirable destination we can reach: a democratic economy dedicated to the mutual flourishing of all humans in harmony with the natural systems that sustain us." Joshua Farley, Professor in Community Development and Applied Economics and Public Administration, University of Vermont, Co-author, Ecological Economics, Principles and Applications "This visionary film reviews a variety of approaches to achieving the social transformation necessary to preserve the earth's ecosystems, and what kind of transformation. It offers a valuable complement to courses on the Anthropocene and international environmental politics." Peter M. Haas, Emeritus Professor of Political Science, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Co-author, Global Environmental Governance "Outgrow the System is a thought-provoking documentary that questions the very foundations of our current economic model and asks what a truly sustainable economy could look like. It showcases bold ideas from around the world that challenge old assumptions and offer fresh paths toward an equitable, resource-wise future." Maya Kocian, Executive Director, Earth Economics "Whether one agrees or disagrees with the perspective presented in this film, the presentation provides economic students with a great opportunity to develop critical thinking skills. I would ask students to contrast its message with the analysis in my book, The Behavioral Economics and Politics of Climate Change and to compare the ideas in the film with the writings of Adam Smith, Thomas Malthus, and Karl Marx, as well as the historical economic experiences of China, the Soviet Union, and Cuba." Hersh Shefrin, Mario L. Belotti Professor of Finance, Santa Clara University "Modern capitalism and neoclassical economics have often been criticized for steering humanity on an unsustainable trajectory, but do we have any models that can offer sustainable alternatives? Outgrow the System presents several schools of thought from the fields of ecological economics, environmental studies, and adjacent disciplines. Through interviews, examples and graphic visualizations, the documentary chronicles several emerging concepts in an accessible way that can be a helpful introduction for scholars, students and the general audience." Rumi Shammin, Professor of Environmental Studies, Oberlin College, President, United States Society for Ecological Economics "Outgrow the System offers a compelling and accessible overview of why - and how - we must transform our economy to serve both people and the planet. It is a powerful reminder that meaningful economic change is not only necessary, but entirely possible. Ideal for community organizations and educational settings, this film sparks vital conversations and inspires creative solutions as we move toward a more sustainable, relationship-centered economy." Valerie Luzadis, Professor of Environmental Studies, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Founder, Heart Forward Science "Outgrow the System challenges us with a simple yet deeply profound question: Do we serve the economy, or is the economy here to serve us? Is there really no alternative to living in a global economic system that continually generates more inequality and worse environmental outcomes? This powerful film is an eye-opener. Watch it and be inspired by the growing global movement of people building new economic strategies and models that are practical, sustainable, just, and just plain common sense. And then get into action!" Ted Howard, Co-Founder and President Emeritus, The Democracy Collaborative