European SPES 2015-2017
The presentation summarizes the works and activities of the European SPES Institute in 2015-2017. It covers conferences, workshop and publications as well as future projects. European SPES 2015-2017
Presentations
Business for the Greater Good: GNH Rating for Enterprises
A paper on “Business for the Greater Good: GNH Rating for Enterprises” by Laszlo Zsolnai and Zoltan Valcsicsak was presented at the 7th International Conference on Gross National Happiness in November 7-9, 2017 in Thimpu, Bhutan. The authors argued that Gross National Happiness (GNH) provides an alternative framework that can help enterprises to develop broader, more inclusive business models that aim to serve the greater good of society. The four pillars of GNH may be… Read More »Business for the Greater Good: GNH Rating for Enterprises
Sustainable Business Models
Laszlo Zsolnai was lecturing on “New Business Models for Future Earth” in a kick-off seminar at the NHH Norwegian School of Economics in Bergen on March 14, 2017. It was the start of a 2 year research program on Sustainable Business Models in which ESADE Business School Barcelona, Copenhagen Business School and Corvinus University collaborate with NHH. Sustainable Business Models
Finance Norway
Laszlo Zsolnai gave a presentation on the Future Earth’s Finance and Economics Knowledge-Action Network at a roundtable meeting organized by Finance Norway and Future Earth Norway on May 30, 2016 in Oslo, Norway. He presented the main propositions and value-basis of the Future Earth Finance and Economics program and emphasized the importance of reinventing business models for serving the commonwealth of life on Earth. (See link) Finance Norway
Socio-Economic & Biophysical Dynamics of the Humanity-Nature Nexus: The Role of Business
Future Earth Germany organized a Foresight Workshop entitled “Science needs in the context of tough choices in implementing the new SDG framework” in Lake Como, Italy in April 18-21, 2016. Laszlo Zsolnai gave a talk on “Socio-Economic & Biophysical Dynamics of the Humanity-Nature Nexus: The Role of Business” in which he emphasized that to transform business into a progressive social institution we should address both the mindset, the behavior and the organizational structure of today’s… Read More »Socio-Economic & Biophysical Dynamics of the Humanity-Nature Nexus: The Role of Business
Buddhist Values in Business and its Potential for Europe
The Buddhist Economics Research Platform, the Loden Foundation, Bhutan and the Hungarian Bhutan Friendship Society in partnership with the European SPES Forum and the European Buddhist Union organized an international workshop ‘Buddhist Values in Business and its Potential for Europe’ on 24-25 November 2012, in Brussels (Belgium). Partly inspired by Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness, the workshop was designed for people from the business or academic sectors interested or involved in Buddhist Business/Economics as well as for entrepreneurs, university students and leaders of Buddhist organizations.… Read More »Buddhist Values in Business and its Potential for Europe
Sustainable Growth or Right Livelihood?
The Faraday Institute for Science and Spirituality of the University of Cambridge organized an international conference entitled “Sustainability in Crisis” in September 26-28, 2011 in Cambridge. Laszlo Zsolnai has been invited to present a view of Buddhist economics on sustainability. In his presentation “Sustainable Growth or Right Livelihood” he argued that not sustainable growth but sustainable livelihood should be the main goal for economic policies. Sustainable livelihood implies the de-growth of the material side of the… Read More »Sustainable Growth or Right Livelihood?
Beyond Profit (in Hungarian)
Laszlo Zsolnai gave a lecture entitled “Beyond Profit” in the TEDx Danubia Conference on September 24, 2010 in Budapest. He argued that today’s mainstream business models cultivate self-interest and promote the „enrich yourself” mentality which is dangerous for society and counter-productive for business.