Overview: Regenerative economics represents a fundamental shift from extractive economic models to those that restore, renew, and revitalize natural and social systems. This approach aligns economic activity with living systems principles, emphasizing relationships, circular flows, and development over mere growth. Wellbeing economy frameworks prioritize human and ecological flourishing over GDP growth, using alternative metrics to guide policy decisions that support life and community prosperity.

Key Resources

• Regenerative Capitalism: How Universal Principles and Patterns Will Shape Our New Economy - Capital Institute

• Wellbeing Economy Policy Design - WEAll, DEAL, ZOE, P4NE

• Cities & Regions: Let's Get Started - Doughnut Economics Action Lab

• The Index of Systemic Trends - The Democracy Collaborative

• Wellbeing Economy: An effective paradigm to mainstream post-growth policies? - Ecological Economics

• Beyond GDP: Measuring What Counts for Economic and Social Performance - OECD

• The Next Economy MBA Book - LIFT Economy

Recent Readings

• Essays from the Edge - The Democracy Collaborative

• Decoupling the “Good Life” from Capitalism - Miho Soon, Post Growth Institute

Organizations

• Capital Institute - Pioneering regenerative economics education and frameworks through courses and programs like With Life.

• Doughnut Economics Action Lab (DEAL) - Develops tools and resources for implementing Doughnut Economics in various contexts from cities to businesses.

• Wellbeing Economy Alliance (WEAll) - Global collaboration working to transform economic systems to deliver human and ecological wellbeing.

• Wellbeing Economy Alliance California - State-level chapter developing wellbeing economy narratives, policy platforms, and community connections.

• The Democracy Collaborative - Working to transform ownership structures and economic systems through research, policy development, and movement building.

• Post Growth Institute - Promotes business ownership structures and economic practices beyond capitalism through research and community initiatives.

Overview: Cooperative development centers on creating and supporting businesses owned and democratically governed by their members, whether workers, consumers, or community stakeholders. This model prioritizes shared decision-making, equitable distribution of profits, and collective problem-solving. Worker ownership specifically empowers employees to own their workplace, building wealth through labor while creating more resilient local economies that prioritize people over profit maximization.

Key Resources

• Resources for Startups - U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives

• Tools for Worker Cooperatives - Democracy at Work Institute 

• Co-op Info - California Center for Cooperative Development

• The Cooperative Growth Ecosystem: Inclusive Economic Development in Action - Democracy at Work Institute and Project Equity

• Democratic Governance: The Design of Governance Systems for Worker Cooperatives - The ICA Group

• Co-op Law: Resources for Worker Cooperatives - Sustainable Economies Law Center

• Coop News

Recent Publications

• Ownership Lens Investing: Capitalizing the Employee Ownership Opportunity - Transform Finance (August 2024)

• Building a Better World Through Cooperatives - NCBA CLUSA (2025)

• From Member-managed LLC to Co-op Reform for Inclusive Economies - Coop News (2024)

Organizations

• U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives - National grassroots membership organization dedicated to growing worker-owned, democratically governed businesses.

• California Center for Cooperative Development (CCCD) - Provides education, technical assistance, and resource sharing to cooperative businesses throughout California.

• LIFT Economy - Offers educational programs supporting cooperatives and other alternative ownership models through their Next Economy MBA program.

• Democracy at Work Institute - Works to expand worker cooperatives through education, technical assistance, and policy development.

• National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International (NCBA CLUSA) - The oldest national cooperative development and trade association in the United States, advocating for cooperative business policy.

• The ICA Group - Oldest national organization dedicated to democratic employee ownership, with expertise in conversions and technical assistance.

• Cooperative Development Foundation - Charitable organization promoting community economic development through cooperative enterprises.

• Sustainable Economies Law Center - Cultivates a new legal landscape that supports community resilience and grassroots economic empowerment through legal education, research, advice and advocacy.

Links to resources coming soon!

Links to resources coming soon!

Links to resources coming soon!

Links to resources coming soon!

Links to resources coming soon!

Links to resources coming soon!

Links to resources coming soon!