The paper analyses the potential of several local initiatives in terms of sustainability. By sustainability, it is not question here to understand if one initiative is sustainable per se, but to understand if these whole initiatives might lead to a global changing in behaviors that could favor...

This paper argues that the present dominant economic system rests upon unquestioned beliefs that are in a deep contradiction with the pursuit of sustainable development. The economics of conventions is used as an analytical framework through which to demonstrate the conflict between the dominant...

The paper examines the increasing number of diverse local development initiatives around the world aiming to break away from the predominant economic system. These initiatives, we argue, despite a somewhat visible disparity, largely rest on relatively similar principles, values and references....