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Innovating urban development: Lessons from M4EG & moving beyond growth

Two key lessons from our work in the Mayors for Economic Growth project, in collaboration with UNDP: 1) Innovation needs to occur at multiple levels and 2) If we’re to be effective, we must remain humble.


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Europe cannot simply build its way out of the housing crisis

There is an anticipated challenge in housing that few are talking about yet. The conventional tool that cities have always had to address housing crises — building more — will not be sufficient. How prepared are cities for this scenario? More importantly, how can cities address housing justice while also averting ecological and biodiversity crises from worsening?


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What’s going on with GDP? Rethinking economic success

For decades, GDP has stood unchallenged as the primary measure of economic success. As calls to move beyond GDP grow, two approaches have risen to prominence: supplementing it with broader measures, or abandoning it altogether to redefine economic success. What is the best path forward in the debate on GDP?


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16 Horizon projects later, our goal is the same

Demos Helsinki is currently involved in 14 Horizon Europe projects. From exploring the societal impacts of new technologies to tackling climate challenges, these projects reflect a growing demand for research that sparks systemic change. Discover how we are working across disciplines to shape fairer, more sustainable futures.


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Demos Helsinki is part of three SRC-funded research projects on democracy and water security

These three research projects are: 1) Reducing polarisation via material participation (MaDem); 2) Coastal waters under pressure – safeguarding a healthy Gulf of Finland in a changing geopolitical and environmental landscape (CoWup); and 3) Safe Water for All (WaterFall).


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A time to build – shaping the next generation of public institutions

We are pleased to announce that the UNDP’s Istanbul Innovation Days (IID), taking place in March 2025, will focus on shaping the next generation of public institutions for a secure and prosperous world.


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iFuture – The diversity of sustainable lifestyles

The law of supply and demand has not applied to the scarcity of natural resources and increased consumer prices. Consequently, the material nature of our lives has blurred. Stuff seems to appear and disappear from our lives as if they were immaterial. Now this is changing rapidly. iFuture – The diversity…


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Well-being of the Metropolis

The Helsinki region carries unique potential for lasting wealth. The strength of the region lies in the breath of capacities of its citizens: sustainable success of the metropolis can only arise from its people, with whom it can create sustainable well-being. This means that we make solving the great global…


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Politics of Happiness – A Manifesto

Most of us value happiness over wealth. In a democratic society this fact should influence politics. Happiness studies in the recent years however show that people are appallingly bad in evaluating what really makes us happy. The recent developments in scientific happiness studies from economics to psychology are ripe for politisation…


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