The New Jersey Institute of Technology's
Electronic Theses & Dissertations Project

Title:	New economy : assessment of the institutionalization of an emerging paradigm and academic field through inquiry into prominent boundary organizations
Author:	Rodgers, Jeanine Cava
View Online:	njit-etd2013-006 (ix, 103 pages ~ 0.9 MB pdf)
Department:	Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science
Degree:	Master of Science
Program:	Environmental Policy Studies
Document Type:	Thesis
Advisory Committee:	Cohen, Maurie J. (Committee chair) Rothenberg, David (Committee member) Brownstein, Michael S. (Committee member)
Date:	2013-01
Keywords:	New economy Sustainability
Availability:	Unrestricted
Abstract:	It is increasingly acknowledged that in order to reach global and regional sustai nabi l ity goals, economic growth and consumption levels in wealthy developed nations will need to stabilize or reverse. Organizations and projects of a wide variety have emerged and expanded to take on this challenge, and shape the so-called, "new economy". The purpose of this research is to gain a clearer picture of the impacts of efforts to develop a shared new-economy knowledge framework on the broader sustai nabi l ity conversation, and to assess the intellectual institutionalization of same. This thesis focuses in on the influence of four U.S.-based organizations with missions centered on developing and promoting a new economy as a solution to intertwined systems-level crises. Data was collected through interviews of nine individuals affiliated with "new economy organizations" via telephone using a semi-standard questionnaire. Analysis showed a paradigm, rooted in decades-old economic ideas, emerging but underdeveloped. To date, it has not had any noticeable influence on mainstream sustai nabi l ity discourse or dominant economic thinking, and remains politically irrelevant. Recent events present the thrust for a scaling-up of efforts to fully-develop the theoretical framework, a viable model, and proceed with steps to further institutionalize the field. Strategic action, including a concerted branding and messaging effort, and improved coordination with outside groups is recommended so that the paradigm can progress with institutionalization, and garner increased funding and popular relevancy.