fellows

Michael Shuman

Fellow, Local Economies

Economics

Michael Shuman is Director of Research and Public Policy at the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE). He holds an A.B. with distinction in economics and international relations from Stanford University and a J.D. from Stanford Law School. Michael has authored, coauthored, or edited seven books, including The Small Mart Revolution: How Local Businesses Are Beating the Global Competition (2006) and Going Local: Creating Self-Reliant Communities in the Global Age (1998). The Small-Mart Revolution was awarded a bronze medal for best business book by the Independent Publishers' Association.

In recent years, Michael has led community-based economic-development efforts in St. Lawrence County (NY), Hudson Valley (NY), Katahdin Region (ME), Martha's Vineyard (MA), and Carbondale (CO), and served as a senior editor for the recently published Encyclopedia of Community. He has given an average of more than one invited talk per week for 25 years throughout the United States and the world.

videos

"A Place Owned by the Neighbors" with Michael Shuman p 1 of 4

length: 5:43   credit: KalaYula

Post Carbon Fellow Michael Shuman presents on why local small business create a more sustainable economy,  and what communities can do to create a thriving local economy.

Note: The sounds is not good in some places, however the talk contains some excellent information for community groups.
For viewers outside the US, parts 3 & 4 have a broader focus.

Listen to: Part 2Part 3Part 4

audio

Unconventional Thinkers: Michael Shuman

length: 30:23   credit: MicroBusiness Newsdownload

What has changed in the economy to cause such a surge in the number of microbusinesses that are staying micro over the last decade or so?

Why, if there is so much evidence that microbusiness development work better than smoke stack chasing, do policy makers and economists still dismiss the smallest of businesses?

What could President Obama do that would be a better use of taxpayer dollars than throwing them at huge corporations?

These are some of the questions explored in this interview with Post Carbon Fellow Michael Shuman.

Latest Publications

Community Food Enterprise: Local Success in a Global Marketplace

Michael Shuman    Jan 27, 2010   

[Excerpt] It's time to connect the headlines between persistent unemployment in the United States and growing food insecurity. The next Obama stimulus package should focus on how local food can address both simultaneously. A … >>

The Small-Mart Revolution

Michael Shuman

Defenders of globalization, free markets, and free trade insist there’s no alternative to mega-stores like Wal-Mart — Michael Shuman begs to differ. In The Small-Mart Revolution, Shuman makes a compelling case for … >>

press coverage

Shuman says incentives are being wasted

Michael Shuman  

Post Carbon Fellow Michael Shuman's recent address to members of Lowcountry Local First was reported in the Charleston Post and Courier.  From the article: Government incentives for jobs and economic development … >>