for Economic Recovery!’

José Carlos MotaDepartment of Social, Political and Territorial Sciences

University of Aveiro | PORTUGAL(jcmota@ua.pt & https://www.facebook.com/josecarlosmota)

‘Local Collaborative Agenda

This strange E wor(l)d

1Crisis

Recession

Unemployment Rating Agencies

Downturn

Credit crunch

Slow down

only 2% of the world capital flow is related

to ‘real economy’

Global

Capitals &

Markets

Public & Private Debt

a non economist view…

America, Europe (South & Ireland)

are in trouble

Subprime mortgage

Economic/Financial: ‘public & private debt’ -> ‘very high interest rates‘ -> ‘risk

of bailout’ -> recession

What do we mean by crisis?

2

a non economist view…

Different dimensions

Political: regulation of financial global markets’& ‘rating agencies’ -> ‘democracy issue’

Social: ‘income inequalities’ -> ‘high unemployment rates’ -> ‘protests in

the streets’

Guilty Issue

How we are facing this crisis?

3

Governments: Greece, Portugal, Ireland & Spain

Banks, Investment Banks & Funds

Rating Agencies

Central Banks

And what have we done?

Solutions for the crisis?

How to get out?

Cuts, corrections and adjustments > Reduce Public Debt? Cuts on Public Investments? Tax increase (taxpayers & enterprises)? Reduce Civil Servants?

alternative?

4

And what about economic recovery/growth? How are we going to create jobs? How can we mobilize society to this huge challenge?

Portugal

If we don’t answer these how are we going to pay the debts? What will be our future?

5

Need different public policies & methodologies

Need a Plan B different way to think about the future & economic recovery!

Bottom-up approach to balance top-down economic & financial policies

involve communities/local authorities/universities/stakeholders in looking for creative answers to ‘economic growth’

for Economic Recovery!’

‘Local Collaborative Agenda

Collaborative approach

New forms of collective action [in an individualist world]

Reinvent the role of cities and citizenship to stimulate economic ‘recovery’

6 based on a ‘Cidades pela Retoma’Portuguese civic movement proposal

Inspired in Saskia Sassen idea'every city has it own micro-stories that can

make them global cities' -> ‘we have to go to the streets and talk to people’

Spatial based development policies centred in cities

Cities: critical mass (people / knowledge / power) -> opportunity to connect local/global

-> test, learn & spread

7

Agendas to challenge cities & economic recovery

Green

Construction

Active Ageing

Soft

MobilityLocal Food

Culture &

Creative

Economy

Cities

Collaborative Approach [in a individualist paradigm] & DIY approach

Collaborative Agenda for Recovery!

8 ‘Social Innovation’Ambitious idea

Promoted by: Local Authorities or by qualified civic groups or both (strengthened local democracy)

‘Low-cost & high-impact’ (‘Knowledge based’) Ideas for Places, challenging different agendas

Action: linking knowledge to action

9 Mapping Knowledge (scientific/popular) about Cities & five Agendas (free and public access knowledge repositories)

Mapping Stakeholders & Key Projects (each agenda)

Mapping City Civic Groups (‘Global City 2.0’)

Action: linking knowledge to action

10

Connecting Places, Ideas, Promoters and Money: ‘low-cost & high impact ideas’ & ‘city crowdfunding system’

Connecting Local Authorities/Stakeholders/Knowledge (‘local hubs to recovery’)

Connecting Citizens - ‘create neighbourhood civic centres managed by citizens using vacant spaces) (reinvent ‘Casas do Povo’ old concept – João Seixas, LisboaIdeia 2011)

Now, it’s time for you to take action

for Economic Recovery!’

‘Local Collaborative Agenda

Coming Soon to a City Near You!

Autumn/Winter 2011