The New Economics Declaration (Sustainism Declaration)

We may create a few millionaires, but we can build a good quality of life for everyone. A truly great nation is one where humanity, nature, and the future walk hand in hand on the same path — with mutual respect. Through the principles of Sustainism, we believe that the economy must not be separated from life, but must be an integral part of life — a life of meaning, happiness, and shared sustainability.

Statement by
Pej Prapakittikun
Sustainism Director
@ United Nations, Thailand

A New Definition of Wealth

Under the Sustainism Guiding Principles, wealth is no longer defined by the number of high-level investors, nor by the count of unicorn startups that emerge in any given year.

Rather, it is defined by the overall quality of life, the stability of society,
and a nation’s capacity to pass on resources, opportunities,
and a healthier environment to future generations.

A truly successful economy is not one that produces the most millionaires,
but one that enables all citizens to live with security, dignity, and a sense of hope.

While economic indicators may continue to rise, the reality of people’s lives often moves in the opposite direction—wages are insufficient, dreams feel out of reach, the air is thick with pollution, and many children still lack access to basic education. Inequality today is no longer an abstract figure; it is visible in everyday life :
In the weary eyes of workers with no rest days,
In the empty hands of landless farmers,
And in the silence of people who have no space to speak.

Nature, once the foundation of life, is being depleted beyond its limits—forests vanish, air turns toxic, and oceans heat beyond repair. Meanwhile, the moral compass of our economic systems is in decline. We have grown desensitized to a world where good people struggle to survive, and selfishness has become normalized.

If we claim that the economy is thriving, yet the majority still lack access to food, education, or dignity, then this is not development—it is failure wrapped in sophistication.

It is time to redefine “wealth”—not by the number of billionaires a nation produces, but by how many people can live with dignity, hope, and without having to apologize for wanting a good life.

In an era marked by intensifying inequality, environmental crises, and lives detached from authentic well-being, the economy—once a tool for progress—has become a force that deepens the separation between people and planet. We reject the extremes of neoliberalism and heartless capitalism that measure success solely in numerical terms. Instead, we will build an “Economy of Meaning”—one that unites life, society, and the Earth on a path that is resilient, sustainable, and rooted in dignity.

Economy of Life : A Framework for a New National Economy

Reframing the national economy through the lens of Sustainism requires a fundamental shift in economic thinking—one that reorients purpose, structure, and value creation away from extractive growth toward regenerative, inclusive prosperity. This transformation is guided by six interlinked economic dimensions:

1. Collective Aspiration & Regeneration

Economies must be redefined not only by what they produce, but by what they preserve and regenerate. Sustainable economic systems center on collective well-being, cultural continuity, and ecological restoration. Growth must be harmonized with planetary boundaries, embedding regeneration as a core economic function—not a peripheral cost.

2. Financial Justice for All (SDG 17.1–17.5)

Finance must serve society, not dominate it. Fiscal policies, international financing mechanisms, and public budgets should be restructured to reduce inequality, support vulnerable communities, and redistribute capital toward shared public goods. Financial justice demands inclusive access to credit, fair taxation, and accountable resource governance.

3. Innovation for Inclusion (SDG 17.6–17.8)

Technological advancement must be democratized and directed toward bridging gaps—not widening them. Economic innovation should empower marginalized groups, facilitate knowledge sharing, and foster inclusive digital economies. Intellectual property regimes and research funding should align with the principles of equity and accessibility.

4. Capacity to Transform (SDG 17.9)

Transformative economies require adaptive institutions and resilient human capital. Investment in education, skills development, and civic capacity is essential to enable individuals and communities to participate meaningfully in economic change. Capacity-building is no longer a support function—it is a strategic pillar of national economic security.

5. Trade for Transformation (SDG 17.10–17.12)

Trade must shift from a zero-sum paradigm to one of co-development and mutual resilience. Fair trade policies, climate-aligned supply chains, and south-south cooperation can drive systemic transformation. Economic agreements should internalize social and environmental externalities to ensure global equity.

6. Aligning the System for Shared Value (SDG 17.13–17.19)

Economic systems must be coherently governed to deliver value beyond profit. National accounts, corporate reporting (e.g., GRI, IFRS), and development cooperation must be aligned to measure progress in terms of well-being, justice, and sustainability. Cross-sectoral policy coherence is key to driving collective impact.

Under the Sustainism framework, the economy becomes a means—not an end. It is an ecosystem designed to uphold life, dignity, and the interdependence of people and planet. By embedding these six principles into national policy and planning, we lay the foundation for an economic future that is just, inclusive, and capable of sustaining life—now and for generations to come.

Our financial system will rest on a new ethic :
“Those who build sustainably shall access capital more affordably.
Those who live sustainably must gain the resources to thrive.”

Taxes, loans, and public funds must not be tools that widen inequality.
They must be bridges of opportunity, connecting people to a dignified and fulfilling life.

We believe that a healthy economy must allow wealth creation.
But it must be wealth built through regenerative enterprises, not exploitative ones—
Profit through restoring the planet, not depleting it.
Growth through uplifting lives, not pressing people down.

We will shape trade and international cooperation rooted in the principle:
“Collaboration over domination.”
And ultimately, every public policy must answer one shared question:
“How will this affect the next generation?”

Because we are not merely consuming resources—
We are designing the world that future people will inherit.

This is the declaration of a new economy guided by the principles of Sustainism.
It is not just a policy proposal—it is a national commitment.
To choose meaning over profit,
sustainability over urgency,
and shared humanity over privileged advantage.

Because a good economy cannot be separated from real life.
And a good nation must never force its people to trade away their dignity
in order to keep an unjust system running.

Join us—as partners in building a sustainable economy
Where everyone can thrive, and the planet can breathe.