Tim Jackson in conversation with Terrence McNally
June 2025
Summary
In a wide-ranging and deeply reflective conversation with Terrence McNally on Free Forum: A World That Just Might Work, Tim Jackson explores the themes of his latest book, The Care Economy. Against a backdrop of global instability and the rise of authoritarianism, Jackson argues that now, more than ever, is the time to advocate for an economy built on care rather than growth. Drawing from his personal journey—from playwright to economist—and decades of work on sustainable prosperity, he shares how the new book evolved in real-time, shaped by world events such as the pandemic and the war in Ukraine. Jackson presents a compelling thesis: prosperity is rooted not in wealth, but in health, and achieving health requires care—not just in the interpersonal sense, but as an economic and societal organizing principle. Care, he argues, is the antidote to the carelessness, imbalance, and violence at the heart of today’s economic systems.
The conversation also traces the philosophical and historical roots of care being sidelined in economic thought—from the rise of capitalism and surplus culture, to the marginalization of women and traditional healers through events like the Flexner Report and the witch trials. Jackson discusses the gendered dynamics of care and the patriarchal systems that have historically devalued it, while acknowledging his own position and responsibility in entering this space as a male economist. Through engaging, accessible language and lived insights, The Care Economy offers not just a critique of growth capitalism, but a hopeful reimagining of the economy as a force for balance, health, and human flourishing. The podcast calls on listeners to reframe care not as a luxury or an afterthought, but as the foundational process without which no society—or economy—can thrive.
The podcast series can be found on https://www.podomatic.com. A transcript of the conversation is available for download in pdf.
