Monday, April 13th | Impact on the Human Economies

Arjo Klamer is an economist and Professor Emeritus of Cultural Economics at Erasmus University Rotterdam. Over the course of his career, he has taught at several American universities and has become widely known for his work on values, culture, and the economy. He currently lectures at the School of Applied Lecturers and serves as academic advisor to Aethiqs, where he contributes to the design and implementation of impact evaluations using a value-based approach.

Klamer is the author of several books, including Doing the Right Things (2017) and Sense of Purpose (2021). His upcoming book, The Human Economy, offers a radically different perspective on how we think about economic value and purpose. Earlier in his career, he also served as a city councillor ("wethouder") in his hometown of Hilversum.

In his keynote “Impact on the Human Economies," Arjo reflects on the difference between what he calls the instrumental economy and the human economy. While the instrumental economy focuses on results, goals, financial returns, and economic growth, the human economy revolves around qualities such as a good home, meaningful friendships, strong communities, a sense of purpose, and a harmonious relationship with nature. If organisations want to understand their true impact, he argues, they should look beyond financial outcomes and consider their contribution to the human economy. In this keynote, Arjo offers perspectives on how we can recognise and assess whether we are truly doing the right things.

LinkedIn