1. Knowledge, Research and the People-Centred Economy
IAN MACPHERSON
PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF HISTORY
CO-DIRECTOR, THE NATIONAL HUB
THE CANADIAN SOCIAL ECONOMY RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA

2. The Knowledge-based Economy
New innovation
Free gift
Forward planning
Going forward 2

3. Knowledge and economies
Roles in Canadian economic activities
An even longer view
Knowledge and the rise of capital and labour
The emergence of knowledge as a driver of economic development
The Social Economy and the uneven development of knowledge

4. The “New” Perspective
The OECD economies are increasingly based on knowledge and information. Knowledge is now recognised as the driver of productivity and economic growth, leading to a new focus on the role of information, technology and learning in economic performance. OECD, The Knowledge-based Economy (Paris, 1996)

5. More….
For countries in the vanguard of the world economy, the balance between knowledge and resources has shifted so far towards the former that knowledge has become perhaps the most important factor determining the standard of living - more than land, than tools, than labour. Today's most technologically advanced economies are truly knowledge-based. World Bank, World Development Report, 1999

6. Instrumentalist Uses of Research
Creator of jobs
Facilitator of trade
Roles in “Easy Globalisation”
Funds and positions for research

7. The larger knowledge possibilities
Roles of (mostly) conservative think tanks and research centres
Research and “movers and shakers” (Janine Wedel, Shadow Elite: How the World’s New Power Brokers Undermine Democracy (New York: Basic Books, 2009)
Research, knowledge and flexibility

8. Ten top Distinguishing Features of Research into the People-centred Economy
Concerned with communities
Different views and understandings
Matters of culture (European Cultural Parliament, Culture, the heart of a knowledge-based economy. Tuscany, 2006.

9. Ten Top Reasons…. Matters of values Social Economy Europe, 2009
the primacy of individual and social objective over capital;
voluntary and open membership;
democratic control by the members;
combination of the members' interests, of the users' interest and/or the general interest;
Application of solidarity and responsibility principles; 
self powered management independent of public authorities
use of essential surplus for sustainable development objectives, member services or services of general  interest.
Social Economy Europe, 2009

10. Top Ten…. Importance for specific groups
Need to treasure institutional varieties
Need to honour different modes, objectives and styles of research and knowledge creation
Need to embrace international perspectives
Moving beyond instrumentalism
Engaging with others

11. Thank you!!!! cluny1@uvic.ca
Conclusions
Thank you!!!!