Small Is Beautiful

Small Is Beautiful: A Study of Economics As If People Mattered is a 1973 collection of essays by British economist E. F. Schumacher. The title is based on ideas taught by his mentor Leopold Kohr, who argued that small-scale technology and small political units often work better than large ones.Dr. Leopold Kohr, 84; Backed Smaller States, New York Times obituary, 28 February 1994.

The book became well known during the 1970s as people reacted to environmental problems, the 1973 energy crisis, and the growing influence of globalisation. Schumacher argued that mainstream economics focused too much on growth and not enough on people, nature, and long-term well-being. In 1995, The Times Literary Supplement listed Small Is Beautiful as one of the 100 most influential books published since World War II.The Times Literary Supplement, October 6, 1995, p. 39 A 25th-anniversary edition with new commentaries was released in 1999.Schumacher, E. F.; Small Is Beautiful: Economics As If People Mattered : 25 Years Later...With Commentaries (1999). Hartley & Marks Publishers. 

For the book’s 50th anniversary in 2023, the Schumacher Center for a New Economics published an updated study guide written by British author David Boyle.

Synopsis
Small Is Beautiful has four main parts: "The Modern World", "Resources", "The Third World", and "Organization and Ownership".

Part I argues that the modern economic system uses natural resources as if they were endless. Schumacher says that resources like fossil fuels should be seen as limited capital, not disposable income, and that pollution also has limits. He believes that societies need to focus on sustainable development. He also introduces the idea of Buddhist economics, which values simplicity, human well-being, and appropriate technology.

Part II discusses education as the most important resource and looks at land, industry, nuclear energy, and technology’s effects on people.

Part III describes the difference between wealthy countries and the developing world. Schumacher looks at unemployment and rural life in India and argues for small-scale, local economic development.

Part IV presents ideas about how large organizations work and the problems that come with size. Schumacher suggests that nationalised industries should aim to create humane, democratic workplaces rather than simply copying capitalist models. The section ends with advice to socialists about improving industry in more people-centered ways.

See also

 A Guide for the Perplexed
 Alter-globalisation
 Anti-globalisation movement
 Degrowth
 Distributism
 Green growth
 Happiness economics
 Humanistic economics
 Moderately prosperous society
 Post-growth
 Renewable energy
 Renewable resource
 Simple living
 Sustainability

 References 

External links
 Full text at ditext.com
 The Schumacher Institute for Sustainable Systems

Category:1973 non-fiction books
Category:Appropriate technology advocates
Category:Blond & Briggs books
Category:Environmental non-fiction books
Category:Simple living
Category:Sustainability books
Category:1973 neologisms
Category:1973 quotations
Category:Quotations from literature
Category:Books in philosophy of technology
Category:1973 oil crisis
Category:British essay collections