The Centre for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity (CUSP), is now into a second phase following the completion of the initial five year programme. Work is continuing to explore visions of where people can flourish within the ecological constraints of a finite planet. The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is funding the project which will see Middlesex University researchers explore the alternative business and investment models for resilience, sustainability and competitiveness. Projects are looking at issues of sustainable purpose in business, innovations to support biodiversity, circular economy, good work and democratic processes in enterprises, and the role of business in activism and driving sustainable behaviour.
Professor Fergus Lyon, Deputy Director of CUSP and theme lead of the Middlesex University research projects in CUSP said: "At a time when there is growing concern about business and the environment, this project will challenge both existing research and business practice about what it means to be both prosperous and sustainable. There is a need for greater understanding of alternative ways of doing business and alternative investment and banking."
This centre, led by University of Surrey's Professor Tim Jackson, is working in collaboration with a variety of academic and non-academic partners. The CUSP work programme is organised around five core themes: (M)eaning and moral framings of the good life; the role of the (A)rts and culture in developing visions of prosperity; (P)olitical and organisational dimensions of sustainable prosperity; (S)ocial and psychological understandings of the good life; and (S)ystems analysis to explore narratives of sustainable prosperity. Detailed information about the MAPSS-Framework can be accessed through the CUSP themes page.
