Upcoming Events
ERA Adelaide hosts regular public meetings on economic and financial issues which take place at The Joinery, 111 Franklin St, Adelaide. Details of upcoming meetings will appear on this page as they are confirmed.
ERA Events – Adelaide
Beyond the headlines on housing
A zoom presentation with Dr Cameron Murray 9.00am AET – 24th April 2025
Dr Murray has been practising Fresh Economic Thinking for many years now and specialises in property and housing markets, environmental economics, and corruption!
Click here to register for the zoom link.
Degrowth Network Australia presents a screening of the BBC Documentary “Can degrowth save the world?” This will be followed by a Q&A with the documentary maker Alvaro Alvarez, panelist presentations and general discussion. The film is a good introduction to the ideas and practice of degrowth.
In 1972 the landmark report ‘The Limits to Growth’ questioned the possibility of endless economic growth on a finite planet. A growing movement of academics and grassroots organisations is now advocating for a bold solution to the existential crises of our time: degrowth. The movement argues for equitably downscaling the economic metabolism to improve social and ecological well-being, emphasising the importance of democratisation of the economy & collectively managing key resources.
Panel members
Philip Lawn — An evidence-based economist & former Adjunct Professor at Torrens University. Author & editor of eight books on sustainable development, climate change, & the steady-state economy, with 55 journal articles & more than 40 book chapters to his name. He makes speaking appearances at public events & delivers keynote & plenary presentations at academic conferences.
Sue Gilbey — Living in an eco-village on the unceded lands of the Kaurna people, she is passionate about projects that fit the people & the local ecology of the place while always acknowledging historical truths. A volunteer wordsmith, chronicler, activist and story collector, her podcast Adelaide Chronicles is a collection of stories & interviews on a sustainable inclusive future. In 2009 she received the International Bremen Peace prize for her activism.
Ashley Campbell — A sustainability practitioner committed to sustainable consumption through living a simple lifestyle. A member of an intentional community, he is involved with his local community & localized initiatives, including a repair café and food co-op.
Past ERA Events 2024-25
29 March, 2025 – The Role of Historical Analysis in Achieving Sustainable Prosperity
A presentation by Professor Philip Lawn
Slides used in the presentation to be available shortly.
30th November 2024 – What is deliberative democracy
Origins, examples and possibilities for reviving democracy in Australia
Presentation by Peter Martin – Citizen Assemblies for South Australia (CAfSA)
25th May 2024
Modern Markets – what they are, how they emerged, and their desirable and undesirable features
Presentation by Dr Phil Lawn
23 March 2024
Modern money – what it is, how it emerged, and its desirable and undesirable features
Presentation by Dr Phil Lawn
Download a copy of the presentation slides
Past ERA Events 2022-23
20 August 2023
Railways, Roads, Electricity, Water – Public or Private, why should we care?
Presentation by Richard Wales
Download a copy of the presentation slides
Are there alternative models for a potentially less damaging society not based on endless growth? – A presentation by Stephen Morris
Download a copy of the presentation slides.
Sunday 26th March 2023
Busting myths of neo-liberal economics and promoting a better way – a presentation by Bob Millar.
What needs to change to achieve a thriving world that is more compassionate, caring and inclusive? A world that works for everyone, not just the elite 1%? After all, what’s the definition of madness – to keep doing the same thing and expect different results?
This is the central theme of a book written by Bob Millar, The Dance of the Eagle and the Condor. You can purchase the book and find out more on Bob’s website: https://danceeaglecondor.com.
Bob Millar is an Australian economist and fiscal policy adviser who has lived and worked extensively in the Pacific, Middle East and Africa, as well as in Australia and the United Kingdom. His experiences have exposed him to indigenous wisdom and cultures as well as to western societies and structures.
Click here to download the slide presentation in pdf format.
23 April 2022 – Central Bank Digital Currency and Cryptocurrencies – What’s it all about?
In this seminar we explored the growing enthusiasm for cryptocurrencies and the current research into a State based digital currency. What’s the difference. Why all the fuss?
Presentations by John Hermann and Bernard Thomson followed by discussion.
A copy of the presentation slides are available here in pdf format.
Past ERA Events to 2021
17 December 2021 – End of Year function at The Joinery, Adelaide.
We began our evening together with the short TED Talk presentation by Mariana Mazzucato, a thought provoking overview of the basis of value creation.
Discussion followed and continued over our meals prepared by The Foodprint Experience.
We thank all our members and supporters and wish everyone a safe and propserous new year.
25 September 2021 – Universal Basic Income and Job Guarantee.
Presentations by Bernard Thomson and David Joy were recorded and can be accessed using the links below.
31 July 2021
From Academic to Practical: The challenges of living and working in a local intentional community.
Presentation and discussion with Michael Bayliss, activist and host of the Post Growth Australia Podcast and Sue Gilbey of the Christie Walk ecological housing project.
22 May 2021
Presentation on anthropologist Jason Hickel’s book, Less Is More. Hickel’s book painstakingly and devastatingly critiques capitalism and its fantasy of “green growth”, and paints a vision for how degrowth can replace it with a well-being economy which nurtures nature and the human spirit.
Click here to view slides from the presentation.
17 April 2021
Is Decoupling GDP Growth from Environmental Impact Possible?
Presentation and discussion with Associate Professor James Ward of UniSA.
For some background reading go to https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.016473327
Click here to view slides from the presentation.
20 March 2021
The place of the economy in our world – Bernard Thomson
View slides from the presentation here.
20 February 2021 – Debunking some myths about Modern Money and Banking
– John Hermann
A series of slides from this talk can be viewed here.
