Do we need to rethink how we measure economic well-being? The leading indicator GDP looks at the value of goods and services but does not consider many quality of life issues, such as a clean environment. Watch this animation to see why coming up with alternative measures may be a good idea.

Local initiatives are creating sustainable jobs in towns across America as consumers create demand for greener products and services. Even the banks and co-ops are getting involved, keeping profits local and re-investing in their communities, which in turn creates more jobs. Watch this animation, part of “How the New Economy Works,” to learn more about a fascinating movement underway in America.

Do we need to rethink how we measure economic well-being? The leading indicator GDP looks at the value of goods and services but does not consider many quality of life issues, such as a clean environment. Watch this animation, part of “How the New Economy Works,” to see why coming up with alternative measures may be a good idea.

Do people exist to serve the economy, or should the economy exist to serve people? Economist David Korten sits down with Host David Brancaccio and explains why he believes millions of American are waking up to the reality of “misplaced priorities” and choosing “life values over financial values.” Find out why he believes the locus of power is shifting away from Wall St, which is fine by him.

Host David Brancaccio travels to Bellingham, Washington and finds a thriving community where people have pulled together to grow local jobs, using local resources. The result: they’ve knit together a community that is happier, healthier and more prosperous. See how local initiatives have helped drive down unemployment to rates lower than statewide and national averages.

In a one-hour PBS special, Host David Brancaccio visits communities across America using innovative approaches to create jobs and build prosperity in our new economy.

In Portland, Maine Host David Brancaccio meets Richard Rockefeller, a physician from a famous family, who has set up a time bank where community members swap services in a cashless system (lowering taxes). From ditch-digging to legal services, each member does work for others and in return. Watch as David donates an hour weatherizing a house and in return get a sailing lesson on Casco Bay.

Host David Brancaccio visits Yo Mama’s Catering, a cooperative of women in Austin, Texas, who are part of a national movement to build and train cooperative groups. Brancaccio witnesses their trials and triumphs as they collaborate to make a better future for themselves and their children. He also tries his hand at making empanadas, with mixed reviews.

Host David Brancaccio meets a man who has taken the main idea of the tiny house movement to work to create a stunning office. He meets another man, who has created a mini-home – complete with a bed, kitchen, and toilet – that attaches to his bike. Watch why David needs a “sustainable chiropractor” after trying out that bed.

US Editor of The Economist, Matthew Bishop sees major problems in America’s “obsession” with the ups and downs of the stock market. Bishop tells David Brancaccio that he believes Wall St. requires major reform, especially for the sake of our retirement. He says the short-term drive for profits led Wall St. to play “a casino game of the worst kind,” but doesn’t think the system is beyond hope.

Economist Jane D’ Arista says retirement funds can be invested locally, avoiding Wall St altogether. “Can we trust these guys? there’s no control over retirement,” she tells Host David Brancaccio. D’Arista sees co-ops as a model whereby retirement funds bypass large banks and instead are pooled together to finance local businesses. Watch her insightful interview.

Host David Brancaccio travels to North Dakota to see how Bremer Bank, a for-profit bank with over a hundred branches in the region, has built and banked local prosperity while some other banks were imploding or collecting hand-outs. Ninety-two percent of the bank is owned by Bremer’s own charity – which in turn gives the profits back to the community as grants.

In Cleveland, Ohio Host David Brancaccio meets Mendrick Addison of Evergreen Cooperative Laundry, a worker-owned co-op committed to environmentally-friendly laundry services. He’s part of a nationwide co-op movement designed to scale up these enterprises and transform entire communities.