Clair Brown believes that following the tenets of the Eastern religion will lead to economic gains. The Chevron oil refinery in Clair Brown’s hometown of Richmond, California, frequently pumps thick, black smoke into the air, testing the limits of acceptability under Environmental Protection Agency regulation. Asthma and other breathing problems persist, as low-income residents statewide are four times as likely to develop chronic lung disease than their wealthier neighbors. The answer to those alarming environmental concerns, Brown contends, is her innovative mix of Eastern religion and Western economic theory. A longtime labor economist and professor at the University of California, Berkeley, Brown has focused her research on wage determination, poverty and high-tech industries, but her book last year hit on a fresh concept. In Buddhist Economics: An Enlightened Approach to the Dismal Science, Brown, 72, explores how economic performance can be measured based on the quality of life, and she applies her theory to the state of California. “We have a terrible record with both diversity and our ecological footprint,” says Brown, a 30-year California resident. She believes the tenets of Buddhism can guide the nation toward sustainable development goals, achieving economic growth with a twist of kindness. | 