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by Andrew Reeves

I’m the Post-Doctoral Fellow in Ecological Macroeconomics and Metrics, working in the . My work encompasses several strands of research, all relating to the core assumption of ecological economics: that our economy is an interrelated subset of the natural world. Understanding the economy’s impact on and relationships with ecosystems is essential to charting a path away from the existential ecological crises being caused by our current capitalist economic system, including both global warming and ecological collapse.

My background in data analysis and mathematical modeling, combined with a strong personal interest in exploring solutions to the growing crises via holistic and heterodox economic approaches, e.g. by using /Post-Growth and led me to this work.

A growing number of researchers in ecological economics see an empirical and justice-driven need to massively reduce consumption in the Global North (US-led geopolitical block of developed countries including Canada, the EU, South Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand). Such a transition to a post-growth economy would allow rapid decarbonization in the Global North while also reducing material and ecological pressures so that the Global South can develop to a reasonable standard of living within planetary boundaries.

My research is a mixture of data-analysis relating to the ecological footprint and macroeconomic modeling. Rather than present a singular isolated project, I will highlight a variety of the threads I’m involved in that are part of the tapestry of work being done at IEFLL.

I work closely with (91��ɫU) in the ecological footprint arena, I’ve started work on creating “Consumption Land Use Tables” (CLUMs) from the input-output supply-use tables used by Statistics Canada to track expenditure of one sector into another. With such tables, we intend to use them for Ontario’s 5-year ecological footprint report, as well as improve the usefulness of the ecological footprint for other researchers. I will also be assisting with methodology improvements for future releases of the ecological footprint.

In the modeling sphere, I’m focusing on further development of Peter Victor’s (91��ɫ) and ’s () (stock-flow consistent) macroeconomic model of the Canadian economy. Stock-flow consistent models take double-entry book-keeping to the level of a whole economy, keeping track of flows and built-up stocks of money, bonds, and so on. This dynamic modeling approach is used instead of the simplified supply and demand equilibrium models used in (neo)classical economic models, which are beset by unrealistic or misleading assumptions and difficulty generalizing beyond very narrow scenarios.

I work closely with the wonderful Peter Victor for this modeling work. Currently, I am implementing a sub-module that projects Canada’s ecological footprint components into the future, such that they capture the impacts of different population and growth scenarios. I’m also investigating further breaking the model down by economic sector using Canadian input-output sectoral data. Additionally, I’m working with an American system dynamics engineer, Joseph Franceschi, to create a version of LowGrow SFC for the American economy, collaborating with former PhD students of Peter’s on updates to the Canadian model, and coordinating efforts of two Master’s students working on how income inequality is handled in the model.

Author bio:

joined the EUC Faculty at 91��ɫ in June 2024 as the Post-doctoral Fellow in Ecological Macroeconomics and Metrics. A mathematical physicist by training, he worked as a programmer prior to his PhD in astrophysics at the University of Waterloo. His PhD was spent doing data analysis and modeling of star formation in galaxies in different environments, as well as collecting data at some of the world’s largest telescopes.

A long-time lover of nature, his increasing desire to work towards a more just world amidst growing ecological and socioeconomic crises, led to self-study in economics and taking graduate finance courses before switching paths to ecological economics. Andrew enjoys volunteering and organizing in the Waterloo Region community around issues that most impact lower income working class people, particularly cycling, labour union organizing, and issues faced by unhoused folks.

Please reach out if you’re interested in collaborating or discussing anything related to his or the International Ecological Footprint Learning Lab’s research, activism, or anything else of interest, including Degrowth, eco-socialism, democratic economic planning.