The world has lost ideals. "The maximum happiness for the greatest number of people" which should be the essential objective of democracy is forgotten. Amidst the progressing globalization "the maximum happiness of the strongest" is being pursued. Today's materialism is based on greed, which is certain to threaten the future of mankind and the globe.

The GDP economics is largely responsible for such a situation. The GDP economics ignores all the important values that cannot be quantified and converted into monetary values, such as culture, tradition, family and social justice. And it makes a major mistake of regarding natural resources as income, and not as capital which requires preservation. Because of this mistake, economic growth is inviting environmental destruction.

The GDP economics instigates the greed that is latent in human nature, producing belief in GDP and the supremacy of economy, which results in eroding the ethics of the present generation, which out of self-interest is building prosperity at the expense of future generations. Such a lack of ethical values is rampant at the global scale. Combined with the absence of the senses of responsibility and justice, this has become a major cause for apprehension about the future of mankind and the globe.
Based on this understanding, I am appealing for the creation of a new civilization that respects the environment and the interests of future generations. This new civilization seeks the transition from the present material-centered one to a spiritual-centered one. It requires a new economics that can replace the GDP economics. I am advocating the "Economics of Contentment." Below are the three premises and 13 principles that describe its basic thinking.
The first premise is "Contentment."This was originally taught by Buddha, but this line of thinking was also advocated in the West as well by the Stoics of the Ancient Greece, Michelangello of Italy, or Schumacher, author of "Small is Beautiful." It thus has universality.
The second premise is that the economics of contentment aims to maximize happiness by reducing desires, as opposed to the maximization of consumption pursued by the GDP economics.The former has a common denominator with the Buddhist teaching that happiness equals wealth divided by desire.

The third premise is that the economics of contentment reassesses various fundamental values that cannot be quantified. These values -- family, local community, security, environment, nature, justice, harmony, heath, etc. -- are too many to be enumerated and their importance is obvious.ﾊ Cultural activities also should not be forgotten.

Based on the above premises, 13 principles are to be proposed.
1.Do not produce what is unnecessary and use what is produced as long as possible.
2.Consumers should not purchase unnecessary goods and cherish what is purchased.
3.The market is regulated by the principle of demand and supply, and is totally indifferent to human welfare. Citizens must control such a market.
4. Deregulation of economic rules should be promoted but it is necessary to strengthen social regulations, such as the control of synthetic chemical substances, from the perspective of the general interests.
5.Protectionism should be selectively maintained and strengthened to protect the welfare of the people.
6.Ensuring employment opportunities must be given top priority and the pursuit of mechanization and efficiency should be restricted from this perspective.
7.The importance of agriculture that has the function of preserving the environment should be reassessed and given higher priority than industrialization.
8.Local production using local resources, and local consumption of the goods thus produced should be encouraged.
9.Mega-technology, as is shown by nuclear power plants, is subject to human error, and could invite disasters. Medium technology should be given priority.
10. Excessive urban development should be corrected. In industrialized countries, in particular, further development should be restricted.
11.By distinguishing clearly renewable resources and non-renewable ones, it is necessary to preserve the latter. The restoration of renewable framework should be pursued.
12. It is necessary to give moral direction to science and technology.
13. In order to promote the shift from the industrial-centered civilization to a spiritual-centered one, it is necessary to introduce such taxes as environment tax, energy tax, carbon tax, green tax, etc.

The economics of contentment may be an ideal distant from the GDP economics. However, in order to rescue mankind from extinction, a "force" that will bring the reality closer to the ideal is indispensable. The existence of this "force" cannot be scientifically proven, but it is "the will of a supernatural being or providence" which seems to be evidenced by the teachings of history that has witnessed numerous rises and falls of civilizations. This force that transcends human power still allows us to have a hope for the future of mankind and the globe.


（Excerpt from Mitsuhei Murata, "Nuclear Energy and the Sickness of Japan" 2003, Asahi Newspapers Publishing）