Thoreauvian Economics

An economic framework rooted in Thoreau’s critique of the market economy: rejecting the equation of value with price, the pursuit of wealth as a goal, and the division of labour that alienates workers. Thoreauvian economics prioritises sufficiency over accumulation, local production over global supply chains, and meaningful work over wage labour. It draws from Walden’s famous calculation of the cost of building his cabin, showing how little is needed to live well. It is a precursor to ecological economics, steady‑state economics, and the degrowth movement.

Example: “She quit her corporate job to work part‑time and spend more time gardening and writing—Thoreauvian economics, choosing enough over more.”

Thoreauvian Economics by Dumu The Void April 21, 2026