1. Needed - A New European Economic Business Plan
18 – 20 September 2014
Needed - A New European Economic Business Plan
Arleen Westerhof

2. We are at a crossroads
The Global Economic Crisis will not be solved in the long run without addressing it’s roots. We have a crisis of values.
“It’s not the lack of values that we should be worried about, rather it’s the kind of values. It has to be something that is not just about self interest.” Sadako Ogata

3. Key Challenges for the Future
1. Widening economic disparities.
The most unequal sectors wrt income disparity are among those providing the greatest numbers of new jobs in the economy.

4. Key Challenges for the Future
2. Persistent Structural Unemployment
People, particularly the youth, need to be productively employed, or we will witness the deterioration of our social fabric.

5. Key Challenges for the Future
3. Diminishing Confidence in Economic Policies
The economic crisis has reminded us that we have placed unrealistic expectations on economic policies.

6. Key Challenges for the Future
4. The role of Multinationals
Just like there are some banks that are too big to fail, there are also some businesses that are also too big to fail without having a significant impact on the communities in which they are located.

7. Key Challenges for the Future
5. Reforming the Financial Markets
We must have the courage to be willing to re-evalutate our pervasive individualism, widespread addiction to debt and the dominance of short-term financial gains!

8. The EES Strategy
Interconnectivity – bringing together theoreticians and practioners from economics, business and government.
Future-focussed
Solutions-oriented
Grounded on Christian tradition, thought and faith.