What if the way we understand economics is fundamentally wrong?

In An Economy for the Common Good, Adam Tugwell challenges the deeply embedded belief that money, growth and profit must sit at the centre of human life. Drawing on lived experience, community work and practical thinking, the book asks a simple but uncomfortable question: why does an economic system that claims to serve us leave so many people struggling to live good, secure and meaningful lives?

This book argues that a good life cannot be bought. True wellbeing is not created through accumulation or consumption, but through strong communities, shared responsibility and systems designed around human need rather than financial extraction. The current economic model, built on fear, scarcity and centralised power, is shown to be a man made construct – and one that no longer works for the majority of people.

At the heart of the book is a compelling alternative: an economy rooted in localism, cooperation and the common good. By bringing decision making, essential services and supply chains back to the community level, An Economy for the Common Good sets out a practical vision for how people can reclaim agency over their lives and futures. It is not a utopian theory, but a grounded call to action – showing how real change can begin wherever people choose to work together.