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Cultivating Economic Literacy for Resilient Work in Europe

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Food for Thought: Articles on recent topics

Resilience
Resilience as a key to cope with turbulent changes?

Resilience is a concept that is used in many different disciplines, including psychology, economics, ecology, health, sociology or engineering. What does it mean? How can it be practised?

Resilience is a concept that is used in many different disciplines, including psychology, economics, ecology, health, sociology or engineering. What does it mean? How can it be practised?

Resilience is a concept that is used in many different disciplines, including psychology, economics, ecology, health, sociology or engineering. What does it mean? How can it be practised?

Development aid for the rich?
Development aid for the rich?

How the Global South continues to develop the North: The Global North was not getting rich due to its ingenuity and effort but rather got developed by the labor and resources of the South.

How the Global South continues to develop the North: The Global North was not getting rich due to its ingenuity and effort but rather got developed by the labor and resources of the South.

How the Global South continues to develop the North: The Global North was not getting rich due to its ingenuity and effort but rather got developed by the labor and resources of the South.

Survival of the richest
Global inequality and the survival of… the richest?

If we organized a small village like our global economy, we would probably call this an authoritarian or a feudal regime. Oxfam’s recent report shows the staggering picture of global inequality and how the survival of all requires a radically different turn.

If we organized a small village like our global economy, we would probably call this an authoritarian or a feudal regime. Oxfam’s recent report shows the staggering picture of global inequality and how the survival of all requires a radically different turn.

If we organized a small village like our global economy, we would probably call this an authoritarian or a feudal regime. Oxfam’s recent report shows the staggering picture of global inequality and how the survival of all requires a radically different turn.

Inflation - Deflation ?
Inflation - Deflation?

Prices in Europe have been rising since 2021. It was quickly defined as inflation. Some economists did not want to use this term hastily. But what is inflation? What, on the other hand, does deflation mean? And what is meant by the term stagflation?

Prices in Europe have been rising since 2021. It was quickly defined as inflation. Some economists did not want to use this term hastily. But what is inflation? What, on the other hand, does deflation mean? And what is meant by the term stagflation?

Prices in Europe have been rising since 2021. It was quickly defined as inflation. Some economists did not want to use this term hastily. But what is inflation? What, on the other hand, does deflation mean? And what is meant by the term stagflation?

Dead end green growth belief
The dead end of the green growth belief

Without leaving growth behind, rich countries are on track to blow up their carbon budget 27 times.

Without leaving growth behind, rich countries are on track to blow up their carbon budget 27 times.

Without leaving growth behind, rich countries are on track to blow up their carbon budget 27 times.

Symptoms Growth Addiction
Symptoms of growth addiction

Shifting towards sustainability requires recognising our economies growth addiction. Here’s your therapist’s list of symptoms.

Shifting towards sustainability requires recognising our economies growth addiction. Here’s your therapist’s list of symptoms.

Shifting towards sustainability requires recognising our economies growth addiction. Here’s your therapist’s list of symptoms.

Is Europe deindustrialising?
Is Europe deindustrializing?

The current energy crisis needs to be taken seriously, as well as increased technological competition between the USA and China and its consequences.

The current energy crisis needs to be taken seriously, as well as increased technological competition between the USA and China and its consequences.

The current energy crisis needs to be taken seriously, as well as increased technological competition between the USA and China and its consequences.

Dear economists - class(ism)
Dear economists: What about class(ism)?

Economics is one of the most elitist academic disciplines and therefore biased for the benefit of upper classes.

Economics is one of the most elitist academic disciplines and therefore biased for the benefit of upper classes.

Economics is one of the most elitist academic disciplines and therefore biased for the benefit of upper classes.

Basic Income IRL
Basic Income in Ireland post-pandemic – Multiple Perspectives

One of the consequences of the pandemic has been a shift in the debate about a universal basic income (UBI) in Ireland. It is a highly controversial issue. What are the arguments?

One of the consequences of the pandemic has been a shift in the debate about a universal basic income (UBI) in Ireland. It is a highly controversial issue. What are the arguments?

One of the consequences of the pandemic has been a shift in the debate about a universal basic income (UBI) in Ireland. It is a highly controversial issue. What are the arguments?

Foundational economy
The Foundations of well-being

What is economic success? The foundational economy collective provokes us to reconsider what matters in our economies.

What is economic success? The foundational economy collective provokes us to reconsider what matters in our economies.

What is economic success? The foundational economy collective provokes us to reconsider what matters in our economies.

Non-working time and gender
The value of non-working time and gender equality

Gender quality pertains to the Western middle class. In contrast, global challenges grow, with women employed in Western households often leaving behind their families or having less time to care for their children. This cannot be a systemic solution to gender equality.

Gender quality pertains to the Western middle class. In contrast, global challenges grow, with women employed in Western households often leaving behind their families or having less time to care for their children. This cannot be a systemic solution to gender equality.

Gender quality pertains to the Western middle class. In contrast, global challenges grow, with women employed in Western households often leaving behind their families or having less time to care for their children. This cannot be a systemic solution to gender equality.

Digitalisation labour market
Digitalisation and its impact on the labour market

The world in the face of the trend of digitization and digitalisation of work: It is expected that nearly 54 percent of occupations are at risk of automation in the European Union. Which skills get more and more important for the future?

The world in the face of the trend of digitization and digitalisation of work: It is expected that nearly 54 percent of occupations are at risk of automation in the European Union. Which skills get more and more important for the future?

The world in the face of the trend of digitization and digitalisation of work: It is expected that nearly 54 percent of occupations are at risk of automation in the European Union. Which skills get more and more important for the future?

Digital footprint 1
The digital footprint and the limits to growth, part I

Energy consumption: There are four different consequences of digitalisation for energy use: Two effects can decrease energy use, whereas two are increasing it. Which ones?

Energy consumption: There are four different consequences of digitalisation for energy use: Two effects can decrease energy use, whereas two are increasing it. Which ones?

Energy consumption: There are four different consequences of digitalisation for energy use: Two effects can decrease energy use, whereas two are increasing it. Which ones?

Digital footprint 2
The digital footprint and the limits to growth, part II

Sustainability strategies can be distinguished into efficiency, consistency and sufficiency. What makes the difference of each?

Sustainability strategies can be distinguished into efficiency, consistency and sufficiency. What makes the difference of each?

Sustainability strategies can be distinguished into efficiency, consistency and sufficiency. What makes the difference of each?

Googleized labour market
Industry 4.0 or the “Googleized” labour market revolution

The disruptive potential of digitalisation and automation has led to the development of “industry 4.0”. In the short and medium term, these changes have often disastrous consequences, both social and political.

The disruptive potential of digitalisation and automation has led to the development of “industry 4.0”. In the short and medium term, these changes have often disastrous consequences, both social and political.

The disruptive potential of digitalisation and automation has led to the development of “industry 4.0”. In the short and medium term, these changes have often disastrous consequences, both social and political.

Robotisation labour market
The labour market and the processes of robotization – challenges of the future

Automatisation, artificial intelligence, robotisation and more bring tremendous changes in the world of labour. There are various future prospects.

Automatisation, artificial intelligence, robotisation and more bring tremendous changes in the world of labour. There are various future prospects.

Automatisation, artificial intelligence, robotisation and more bring tremendous changes in the world of labour. There are various future prospects.

Reduce employee stress
Employer actions to reduce employee stress during the Covid-19 pandemic

Every person reacts differently to stress and employers in the post-era of pandemonium are increasingly turning to new workplace solutions. Which ones?

Every person reacts differently to stress and employers in the post-era of pandemonium are increasingly turning to new workplace solutions. Which ones?

Every person reacts differently to stress and employers in the post-era of pandemonium are increasingly turning to new workplace solutions. Which ones?

Motivation to work during Covid
Motivation to work during the Covid-19 pandemic

Nowadays, more and more attention is being paid to the importance of human resources in the context of a company’s development and market success. There is no doubt that the knowledge, skills and competencies of employees are key elements of an efficiently functioning organization. But also motivation...

Nowadays, more and more attention is being paid to the importance of human resources in the context of a company’s development and market success. There is no doubt that the knowledge, skills and competencies of employees are key elements of an efficiently functioning organization. But also motivation...

Nowadays, more and more attention is being paid to the importance of human resources in the context of a company’s development and market success. There is no doubt that the knowledge, skills and competencies of employees are key elements of an efficiently functioning organization. But also motivation...

Stress at work Covid
Stress at work during the Covid-19 pandemic

Stress is a reaction designed to prepare us to cope with the challenges that arise in the surrounding environment. It has become an indispensable part of every person’s and worker’s life these days, and an aftermath of the increasingly fast pace of life.

Stress is a reaction designed to prepare us to cope with the challenges that arise in the surrounding environment. It has become an indispensable part of every person’s and worker’s life these days, and an aftermath of the increasingly fast pace of life.

Stress is a reaction designed to prepare us to cope with the challenges that arise in the surrounding environment. It has become an indispensable part of every person’s and worker’s life these days, and an aftermath of the increasingly fast pace of life.

Role manager Covid
The role of the manager in the era of the Covid-19 pandemic

Working conditions in many institutions have changed over the past few years. The traditional contact between manager and employee has disappeared, which has caused and continues to cause many problems. Which ones? How to cope with them?

Working conditions in many institutions have changed over the past few years. The traditional contact between manager and employee has disappeared, which has caused and continues to cause many problems. Which ones? How to cope with them?

Working conditions in many institutions have changed over the past few years. The traditional contact between manager and employee has disappeared, which has caused and continues to cause many problems. Which ones? How to cope with them?

Transformations uncontroversial points
Transformation(s) of the labour system – uncontroversial points

There are many reasons why a transformation of the labour system is due. The question of which policies are most promising is the subject of intense debate. Among the various contributions, several points emerge as relatively uncontroversial.

There are many reasons why a transformation of the labour system is due. The question of which policies are most promising is the subject of intense debate. Among the various contributions, several points emerge as relatively uncontroversial.

There are many reasons why a transformation of the labour system is due. The question of which policies are most promising is the subject of intense debate. Among the various contributions, several points emerge as relatively uncontroversial.

Labour policy post-growth
Labour policy for a post-growth economy

In our economic system, economic growth and employment are systematically linked. Growth allows the creation of jobs. In addition, the social security system is linked to work. In countries with an export-led growth model, such as Germany, the economy needs more skilled people. The unskilled and the long-term unemployed remain outside the labour market. What are ways out?

In our economic system, economic growth and employment are systematically linked. Growth allows the creation of jobs. In addition, the social security system is linked to work. In countries with an export-led growth model, such as Germany, the economy needs more skilled people. The unskilled and the long-term unemployed remain outside the labour market. What are ways out?

In our economic system, economic growth and employment are systematically linked. Growth allows the creation of jobs. In addition, the social security system is linked to work. In countries with an export-led growth model, such as Germany, the economy needs more skilled people. The unskilled and the long-term unemployed remain outside the labour market. What are ways out?

Multigenerational lens
World of work through multigenerational lens

How do workers of different generations approach to collaboration? Are there differences in their relation to work values, an organisation's culture, work styles, leaderships styles, etc.?

How do workers of different generations approach to collaboration? Are there differences in their relation to work values, an organisation's culture, work styles, leaderships styles, etc.?

How do workers of different generations approach to collaboration? Are there differences in their relation to work values, an organisation's culture, work styles, leaderships styles, etc.?

Career guidance nutshell
Career guidance in a nutshell

Have you ever looked for help of a career guide or counsellor? Do you actually know what a career guide is doing? How can s/he help you with your career choices and during career changes?

Have you ever looked for help of a career guide or counsellor? Do you actually know what a career guide is doing? How can s/he help you with your career choices and during career changes?

Have you ever looked for help of a career guide or counsellor? Do you actually know what a career guide is doing? How can s/he help you with your career choices and during career changes?

Career transitions
Career Transitions – understanding the concept

Our careers are often a journey of detours, backtracking, skipping and searching. They are not influenced solely by our own choices. What then characterises a career transition?

Our careers are often a journey of detours, backtracking, skipping and searching. They are not influenced solely by our own choices. What then characterises a career transition?

Our careers are often a journey of detours, backtracking, skipping and searching. They are not influenced solely by our own choices. What then characterises a career transition?

Career change smoothly
How to go through a career change smoothly?

Going through a career change might be sometimes challenging since it can catch us unprepared. How to be better prepared for change?

Going through a career change might be sometimes challenging since it can catch us unprepared. How to be better prepared for change?

Going through a career change might be sometimes challenging since it can catch us unprepared. How to be better prepared for change?

Career journey
Entrepreneurial Journey as a Career Choice

There are different motivations and circumstances, why people choose an entrepreneurial journey as a career. What types of entrepreneurship are observed and which steps might help you to navigate your journey?

There are different motivations and circumstances, why people choose an entrepreneurial journey as a career. What types of entrepreneurship are observed and which steps might help you to navigate your journey?

There are different motivations and circumstances, why people choose an entrepreneurial journey as a career. What types of entrepreneurship are observed and which steps might help you to navigate your journey?

EU top 10 future professions
The TOP 10 future professions in the European Union

Computer graphic designer, broker, nutritionist, health care worker, logistian, research worker: which professions are regarded as 'future like'?

Computer graphic designer, broker, nutritionist, health care worker, logistian, research worker: which professions are regarded as 'future like'?

Computer graphic designer, broker, nutritionist, health care worker, logistian, research worker: which professions are regarded as 'future like'?

Jobs future lens
Jobs through futuristic lens

It is expected that 50% of all employees will need reskilling by 2025 and 40% of existing workers’ core skills shall change in the next 5 years. How to cope with this situation?

It is expected that 50% of all employees will need reskilling by 2025 and 40% of existing workers’ core skills shall change in the next 5 years. How to cope with this situation?

It is expected that 50% of all employees will need reskilling by 2025 and 40% of existing workers’ core skills shall change in the next 5 years. How to cope with this situation?

Skills for tomorrow
Skills for the labour market of tomorrow

It is expected that 50% of all employees will need reskilling by 2025 and 40% of existing workers’ core skills shall change in the next 5 years. How to cope with this situation?

It is expected that 50% of all employees will need reskilling by 2025 and 40% of existing workers’ core skills shall change in the next 5 years. How to cope with this situation?

Enhancing one's skills is crucial in the permanent changing today's world of labour. What type of skills are differenciated into? Which ones would mainly be expected?

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European cooperation: what is it about

A learning platform

Adult educators from associations, companies and universities in six countries created a learning platform on these and more questions. JUMP IN!

 

The current economic and social transformations are also changing the world of work. How? Is unemployment rising? Are new jobs being created? Are working conditions changing? Is social security financed through employment? What does “resilience” mean in its general, societal and its daily life dimensions?

       The topics of the courses are:

  • The Financial Policies Needed to Ensure a Just Transition for Workers
  • The ‘Gig’ Economy & Humans on the Move
  • Care work in the Foundational Economy
  • Basic Income and Sustainable Work
  • Job guarantee and Modern Monetary Theory
  • How the Covid-19 Pandemic Changed the Requirements for the Modern Worker (labour force)
  • Skills for Future Jobs (how training/competence development needs to change to meet the needs of the future labour market)
  • Career Guidance and Counselling for Successful Transition to the Labour Market
  • Entrepreneurship as a Tool Fostering Innovation and Resilience at the Labour Market

" Resilience is an art of living, and it includes the power to create conditions that make such an art of living possible."

Helène Zuc

Who we are

In our group cooperate colleagues from Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Spain, Ireland and Poland. Together we already developed the learning platform on Economic Literacy in Europe with courses on inequality, money, growth, taxes, climate change, and other topics.
weltgewandt. Institute for Intercultural Civic Education

Berlin/DE | Intercultural, socio-economic and civic-political education across Europe

AVITEUM

Prague/CZ | Catalyst for Change. Grant lab. Growth lab. Project lab. Creating solutions to develop potential and build a better future for everyone.

Transit Projectes

Barcelona/ES | Cultural, social and educational services across Spain and in Latin America.

Financial Justice Ireland

Dublin/IRL | Socio-economic and political education with focus on a financial system that serves the needs of all people. The aim is to empower people to take informed action for greater economic justice globally.

WU-Logo

Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien

Vienna/AT | Institute for Multi-level Governance and Development, research-intensive public university with a keen awareness of its obligations to society and the responsibility of students in business and society

Logo-WSEI-wersja-podstawowa Kopie

Akademia WSEI

Lublin/PL | The private university combines high-livel education with a rare degree of close contact with the practice of socio-economic life. Among others, it qualifies students in public finance management, strategic planning or absorption and management of EU funds.

What we do

Our project activities encompass online exchanges about the courses of the learning platform we are going to produce as well as organisational questions. In addition, we meet each other at each partner’s organisation and hold workshops to test and reflect the developed material. Find here some impressions.

Work on work

Work meeting in Ireland in January 2023 to continue working on the topic of work and the courses on which the partners are currently working. Compared for example to money, it is not a "sexy" topic. But crucial for our life. Of course, there are many links to money....

AI and work

Meeting with colleagues of the project groups in Poland, Spain and the Czech Republic in Berlin from 8th to 9th November 2023. Two others (Ireland, Austria) took part online. Day one was dedicated to questions about the developed learning platform. The focus of day two was on "Artificial intelligence and work".

Just transition

Workshop in Vienna, June 2023: What is wellbeing? What ideas exist for a just transition to that? How does artificial intelligence change the world of work? These and many other questions were discussed during 4 days. „The exchange is the best part of the project.“

Events

Each partner organisation invited to an event in order to present the project and its results to a wider audience. In addition, every event was dedicated to a specific topic. Find below impressions of the gatherings.

Limits to Digitalisation

Event in Berlin: Artificial intelligence and the work of the future: 45 participants came to hear the considerations of publicist and theatre director Fabian Scheidler on AI. He argued for a demythologisation and for the not inconsiderable ecological damage caused by AI to be taken into account.

Career support

The future of jobs and skills: event in Prague / Czech Republic on 7th December 2023. More than 30 interested citizens took part to learn on the future of jobs, skills and careers in unstable times. The majority of them were so-called disadvantaged people on the labour market.

Work resiliency

Under the title “Building new labour imaginaries: laboratory of mutant economies” invited Transit Projectes adult educators and citizens to take part in a workshop in Barcelona on 5th December 2023. The basic idea was: "Let’s collectivize knowledge and tools! Let’s create more resilient work alternatives!"

Future fit education

Event in Vienna: on the 9th of November 2023 50 participants were taking part in a discussion about the role of economic literacy in a rapidly transforming world of work and a sustainable future. Prof. Bettina Zurstassen was talking about the the state of economic education in Germany and the controversial efforts by private NGOs and Think tanks to create learning materials for schools.

Just transition

"How to fund a democratic just transition": 30 motivated people showed keen interest in the debate on this question. The main focus of the event in Dublin on the 12th of November 2023 were the conditions that are needed for our democratic just transitions and what justice actually means for it.

Education for the region

Event in Lublin on the 16th of November 2023: the aim was supporting the socio-economic development processes of the region and promoting the development of individual resilience at work. With a focus on the problems of the functioning of the modern labor market participants representing local and foreign, education and business units were discussion and getting familiar with the e-learning platform.

Words about work

It is extremely important for our democracy to function that ordinary citizens understand the key issues and basic theories of economics.
Ha-Joon Chang
Hell is a collection of individuals who are spending the bulk of their time working on a task they don’t like and are not especially good at.
David Graeber
As exchange-values, all commodities are merely definite quantities of congealed labour-time.
Karl Marx
A great deal of the wealth at the top is built on the low-wage labour of the poor.
Barbara Ehrenreich
Let us not be ashamed to speak what we shame not to think.
Michel de Montaigne
weltgewandt. Institut für interkulturelle politische Bildung e.V.
Flämingstr. 122 | 12689 Berlin
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Get in touch with us

+49 (0)30 22808235
info@weltgewandt-ev.de

Erasmus+

The project is co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union. Erasmus+ cooperations enable adult educators and adult citizens to develop innovative material together, share its didactical competencies, make learning experiences abroad and create European networks. For more info see the website of the National Agency in your country, https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/contact/national-agencies_en

Redistribution of this work and its contents as Open Educational Resource (OER) permitted. Please cite as follows: “Website ‘Fresh Up Work. Cultivating Economic Literacy for Resilient Work in Europe’ by Fresh Up project team, CC BY-SA 4.0”.

 

Responsibility

The European Commission’s support for the production of this website does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.