I am a mature student at Warwick University and am just completing my degree ‘Economics and Administration'. My intension had been to finish with a module and dissertation on ‘Green Economics' but have been told by my Economics tutors that they regretted ‘economics and the environment' is no longer covered by their syllabus. The GEI workshop has been the first occasion when I have heard informed and balanced discussion on economic issues which have crucial relevance to the environment and sustainability.

It was very refreshing to hear discussion at the Green Economics Institute workshop around the definition of growth and what counts as GDP. This is so vital if we are to properly integrate values both social and ecological into an economic system and to end a situation when disasters can actually have the effect of ‘increasing GDP'!

The Training Workshop was terrific in its range of speakers and quality of information given. It fulfilled its aim of actively involving students in discussion. I will certainly be attending future GEI training and hope to contribute to its discussion groups and campaigns. I also hope to apply some of the insights gained in relation both to local environmental issues as well as my academic studies at Warwick University.

I have found the basic axiom of conventional economics, that the fundamental problem is one of scarcity, far too simplistic. I was originally motivated to study economics because I have always been alarmed at the way that scarcity and waste are deliberately created to increase demand, through for example inbuilt obsolescence.

The ‘problem of scarcity' is belied when a number of countries or economic blocks each claim to be gaining the capacity to produce enough of certain goods to completely supply the world market. The problem then surely becomes how to coordinate such vast resources. Competition has been the mantra and cure-all solution throughout my studies at Warwick yet on a global scale we are seeing increased inequality and environmental degradation.

Report by Jane Green a student at Warwick University