Community Economy Insights into Policies for Economic and Social Wellbeing

Community Economies researchers have been providing insights into debates about policy initiatives that can contribute to economic and social wellbeing, and help people to live decent lives.

Australia is one of only a few high-income countries that does not provide free school lunches and there is a push to change this. Community Economies Institute member, Miriam Williams has provided input into the debate arguing that “nutritious school lunches don’t just help children with concentration and their overall health and wellbeing but have multiple benefits from creating employment opportunities, to helping address sustainability and food waste issues and even giving time-poor parents extra time in the morning.” 

Williams proposes that that there are different models that could be considered including a means-tested version in which some families pay AU$5 to $10 while others have lunches for free. 

In an era of a housing affordability crisis, there is a push for policies that provide housing affordability and security, including building on the decades-old experiences of community-managed rental cooperatives in cities such as Melbourne, Australia. Community Economies Research Network member Louise Crabtree highlights how this approach to addressing housing affordability has multiple benefits for residents.

“The thing that we found absolutely striking in our research on rental cooperatives was the sense of home, the sense of community and the sense of stability for residents.” 

In a different context, Community Economies Institute member Maliha Safri has provided an appraisal of Zohran Mamdani’s policies that are being introduced in New York City. She finds that his five key policies (a rental freeze, public groceries, childcare, free buses and affordable housing) could improve the lives of New Yorkers including for those who face housing precarity and food insecurity, and are unable to afford childcare. 

“These policies would help millions to live decent lives by building on existing initiatives in New York City and elsewhere, and with relatively small public investment.” 

Story by Jenny Cameron

Photo by Felix Kolthoff on Unsplash