Economics Reimagined: A Discussion on Building a Human Rights Economy

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted 75 years ago by the United Nations, set forth a set of civil, social, and economic rights that inspired the development of human rights’ laws around the world. The declaration has been a north star for those working to build an equitable and fair society for all people ever since. But over the intervening decades, our economic agenda and policymaking have often focused on economic growth and business success metrics at the expense of human well-being. This economic framework, which preferences profits over people, has contributed to skyrocketing wealth and income inequality, economic instability, social unrest, and recently the rise of new authoritarian movements. The economic rights from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, however, are reemerging as part of a call for a more moral and equitable economic order. In this context, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and The New School’s Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy recently announced the Partnership for a Human Rights Economy. The partnership will help advance scholarship and economic policymaking toward achieving human rights.  On January 19, the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and The New School’s Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy hosted a conversation on “Economics Reimagined: A Discussion on Building a Human Rights Economy.” Enjoy this engaging and informative discussion among our expert panelists and speakers about how we can change our economic framework to help build a more moral and inclusive economy. This event features opening remarks from Todd Howland (UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights), followed by a panel discussion with Rangita de Silva de Alwis (University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School), Jim Wallis (Georgetown University Center on Faith and Justice), Darrick Hamilton (The New School), Thea Lee (U.S. Department of Labor), and moderator Binyamin Appelbaum (The New York Times Editorial Board).