The Doughnut: A visual framework for 21st-century prosperity.
Humanity's 21st century challenge is to meet the needs of all within the means of the planet.
Book summary
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Doughnut Economics
by Kate Raworth
Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st-Century Economist
New economic model balancing human needs with planetary boundaries
4.6(4.2k)Published 2017
Topics
EconomicsSustainabilityDevelopmentSystems Thinking
Reading companion
How to read Doughnut Economics with Readever
Read this book as a toolkit for economic redesign—work through one of Raworth's seven ways to think like a 21st-century economist each week, using the Doughnut framework to analyze real-world policies and business models. After each chapter, identify one economic assumption you can challenge in your own thinking or work. Use Readever's AI to translate economic concepts into practical applications and create personalized action plans for implementing regenerative and distributive principles in your community or organization.
Things to know before reading
- Raworth challenges fundamental assumptions of neoclassical economics—be ready to question concepts like GDP growth as the primary measure of success
- Come with specific economic or environmental challenges in mind so you can immediately apply the Doughnut framework
- The book emphasizes systems thinking over linear models—prepare to think in terms of feedback loops and interconnected systems
- Understand that the Doughnut is both a diagnostic tool and a compass for action, not just a theoretical concept
Brief summary
Doughnut Economics in a nutshell
Economist Kate Raworth proposes a radical new economic model shaped like a doughnut, with an inner ring representing social foundations (meeting human needs) and an outer ring representing ecological ceilings (planetary boundaries). The goal is to create economies that are regenerative and distributive by design.
Key ideas overview
Doughnut Economics summary of 3 key ideas
Raworth challenges the fundamental assumptions of 20th-century economics and proposes a new framework fit for the 21st century's social and ecological challenges.
Change the goal: From GDP growth to the Doughnut.
For over half a century, economists have pointed to GDP as the first way to take the temperature of a nation's economy. But the patient is overheating, and we're still using the same thermometer.
Create economies that are regenerative and distributive by design.
Today we have economies that need to grow, whether or not they make us thrive. We need economies that make us thrive, whether or not they grow.
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Discover a new economic framework that balances human well-being with planetary health.
This summary reveals how to move beyond GDP growth as the primary economic goal and design economies that meet everyone's needs without overshooting Earth's ecological limits. You'll learn practical principles for creating economies that are regenerative and distributive by design.
Deep dive
Key ideas in Doughnut Economics
Key idea 1
The Doughnut: A visual framework for 21st-century prosperity.
Humanity's 21st century challenge is to meet the needs of all within the means of the planet.
The Doughnut's inner ring represents twelve social foundations derived from the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The outer ring represents nine planetary boundaries identified by Earth-system scientists. The safe and just space for humanity lies between these boundaries.
Remember
- Economic success means meeting human needs without overshooting ecological limits.
- The Doughnut provides a compass for 21st-century economic navigation.
- We need to measure what matters, not just what's easy to count.
Key idea 2
Change the goal: From GDP growth to the Doughnut.
For over half a century, economists have pointed to GDP as the first way to take the temperature of a nation's economy. But the patient is overheating, and we're still using the same thermometer.
GDP measures market transactions but ignores unpaid work, environmental degradation, and social well-being. The Doughnut reframes economic success as meeting human needs within planetary boundaries, making growth a means rather than an end.
Remember
- GDP growth is not synonymous with economic success.
- We need metrics that capture well-being and ecological health.
- Degrowth may be necessary in overdeveloped economies.
Key idea 3
Create economies that are regenerative and distributive by design.
Today we have economies that need to grow, whether or not they make us thrive. We need economies that make us thrive, whether or not they grow.
Regenerative economies work with, not against, living systems. Distributive economies share value creation more widely. Both require redesigning economic systems rather than relying on redistribution after wealth has been concentrated.
Remember
- Design economies to be circular and waste-free from the start.
- Use networks and platforms to distribute wealth and opportunity.
- Move from shareholder capitalism to stakeholder capitalism.
Context
What is Doughnut Economics about?
Doughnut Economics represents a fundamental rethinking of economics for the 21st century. Raworth argues that the neoclassical economics taught in universities is based on 19th-century physics metaphors and 20th-century political contexts, making it ill-suited to address today's interconnected social and ecological crises.
The book presents seven ways to think like a 21st-century economist: change the goal, see the big picture, nurture human nature, get savvy with systems, design to distribute, create to regenerate, and be agnostic about growth. Each chapter challenges a core assumption of mainstream economics and offers an alternative perspective.
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Review
Doughnut Economics review
Raworth's work has been widely praised for its creativity, clarity, and practical relevance. While some economists question whether her framework provides sufficient analytical rigor, the book's strength lies in its ability to reframe economic thinking for a general audience. The Doughnut model has been adopted by cities, businesses, and organizations worldwide as a compass for sustainable development.
- Revolutionary framework that redefines economic success for the 21st century.
- Accessible presentation of complex economic and ecological concepts.
- Practical guidance for creating more sustainable and equitable economies.
Who should read Doughnut Economics?
Policy makers and urban planners designing sustainable communities.
Business leaders wanting to align with sustainable development goals.
Students of economics, environmental studies, and sustainability.
Anyone concerned about creating economies that work for people and planet.
About the author
Kate Raworth is a renegade economist focused on exploring the economic thinking needed to address the 21st century's social and ecological challenges. She teaches at Oxford University's Environmental Change Institute and is a Senior Associate at the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership. Her Doughnut Economics framework has been widely influential in sustainability circles.
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Final summary
Doughnut Economics offers a hopeful and practical vision for creating economies that enable all people to thrive while respecting planetary boundaries. By challenging outdated economic assumptions and providing a new compass for economic navigation, the book points toward a more sustainable and equitable economic future.
Inside the book
Doughnut Economics represents a paradigm shift in economic thinking, moving beyond the narrow focus on GDP growth to embrace a more holistic vision of prosperity that balances human well-being with planetary health. The framework provides both a compelling vision and practical tools for creating economies that are regenerative and distributive by design.
The book's lasting contribution lies in its ability to reframe complex economic and ecological challenges in accessible, visual terms—making it possible for diverse stakeholders to align around a common understanding of what constitutes true economic success in the 21st century.
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