Author, The Happiest Man in the World: Life Lessons from a Cultural Economist
Since the summer of 2010, Winston Crown Publishing House has consistently posted my weekly articles on their site. I enjoy telling the riveting stories about Project C.U.R.E. and the unique and compassionate work being accomplished around the world. Those postings tally up to over 225 weekly articles.
I have also thoroughly enjoyed sharing articles about the economic systems and the different cultures I have personally experienced in the over 150 countries in which I have worked around the world. Those writings have eventually ended up in the gold medallion-winning books that Winston Crown Publishing House has produced and distributed.
In 2013, I began focusing my attention on finishing a book on Cultural Economics. Economics and business matters have always intrigued me. We feel that even not-for-profit organizations of charity should be run with the same care and efficiency as any Fortune 500 company. That is why it pleases me so much when Forbes Magazine lists Project C.U.R.E. in the top twenty most efficiently run not-for-profit charities in America. That’s just good stewardship.
Many of my weekly articles over the past year have been full of observations and insights regarding the economic systems and cultures of which I am familiar. I hope to include those ideas in the up-coming book. I find pleasure in bouncing ideas off of my reading friends and receiving back from them their candid responses. That process always gives me a clearer idea of what should be included in the book and what should be left on the floor of the editing room.
In the past articles we have used as an overall definition of the idea of economics as being; the discipline of study that deals with the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The root is from the ancient Greek word oikovouia, or the combination of oikos (the house) and nous (nomos, custom or rule), simply put, the rules of the house for good management.
In my studies over the years, I have pursued the subject of economics to a further interdisciplinary bias to express my interests and observations. Cultural Economics is a branch of economics that concerns itself with the relationship of culture to economic outcomes. It studies how various aspects of human cultures interact with economic events, behaviors, and conditions. A given culture will even influence the political system with its traditions, religious beliefs, the formation of institutions, and the value ascribed to individuals.
Cultural Economics certainly leans more toward the behavioral aspects of the study of economics rather than the pure analytical number crunching of the econometrics laboratory. It is aimed at how people affect economic systems and how cultures are affected by economic choices. In the study of Cultural Economics we have the thrill of taking some basic principles of economics and combining them with the unpredictable thoughts, choices, and actions of over seven billion people on earth today. That makes for an interesting adventure that can open our eyes to a better understanding of motives, methods, behaviors, successes, and failures regarding our world’s resources and human lifestyles.
The past fifty weekly articles have generously investigated the possibilities of Cultural Economics and the thesis that Global Transformation Takes Place at the Intersection of Culture and Economics. There is one more area of economics that I would like to pursue to finish out the Cultural Economics book. It deals specifically with the cultural component labeled Individual on the Cultural Economics matrix we have frequently shown in the articles.
We will call this division of economics the Economics of the Interior. What am I supposed to do with all the personal resources, liabilities, and opportunities inside my own individual and sovereign being (my own nation-state) in relationship to the arbitrary and compulsory expectations of the economic systems in which I find myself? We will investigate that subject beginning next week.
Next Week: Economics of the Interior, Part 1
(Research ideas from Dr. Jackson’s new writing project on Cultural Economics)
© Dr. James W. Jackson
Permissions granted by Winston-Crown Publishing House
Dr. James W. Jackson often describes himself as "The Happiest Man in the World." A successful businessman, award-winning author and humanitarian, Jackson is also a renowned Cultural Economist and international consultant, helping organizations and governments to apply sound economic principals to the transformation of culture so that everyone is "better off."As the founder of Project C.U.R.E., Dr. Jackson traveled to more than one hundred fifty countries assessing healthcare facilities, meeting with government leaders and "delivering health and hope" in the form of medical supplies and equipment to the world's most needy people. Literally thousands of people are alive today as a direct result of the tireless efforts of Project C.U.R.E.'s staff, volunteers and Dr. Jackson.
To contact Dr. Jackson, or to book him for an interview or speaking engagement: press@winstoncrown.com
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