The Case for a Child-Centred Economy

Concept: Next Generation Economics

Project: Future Makers

Executive Summary

Current economic models prioritize short-term growth at the expense of ecological stability and social cohesion. We propose a Child-Centred Economy; a regenerative framework that shifts the focus from “short-termism” to the long-term wellbeing of children and future generations. By designing systems that allow a child to thrive, we inherently create an economy that works for all of humanity and the planet.

The Problem: Systemic Failure & Marginalisation

The dominant economic trajectory is currently incompatible with the living world. We are facing a "polycrisis" evidenced by:

• Ecological Collapse: Human activity consistently breaches Planetary Boundaries
• Societal Fraying: Declining maternal care standards, falling birth rates, and an increasingly fragile future workforce
• Marginalization: Despite being the most prevalent global demographic, children remain the most marginalized in terms of autonomy and rights
• The "Western" Bias: Traditional economics, led by narrow Western perspectives, ignores the "margins" where new, resilient thinking is born

The Framework: Regenerative & Integrated

A Child-Centred Economy is not a siloed theory; it integrates the best of modern regenerative movements:

• Doughnut Economics: Meeting human needs within planetary limits
• Wellbeing Economy: Shifting policy goals from GDP to participatory, holistic health