Reimagining Economics with Non-human Animals at the Center

This concluding chapter synthesizes the key insights of The Economics of Non-Human Animals, a volume exploring how non-human animals are commodified within global economic systems. Drawing on contributions from diverse authors, the book reveals how animal exploitation is structurally embedded in modern economies and closely linked to broader market failures such as environmental degradation, inequality, and displacement. Common threads include the invisibility of animals in economic theory despite their foundational role in human prosperity, the normalization of their suffering, and the shared extractive logic that harms both animals and marginalized human communities. These conclusions were deepened through a post-production virtual workshop, where authors reflected on overlapping themes and future directions. The chapter outlines proposals for integrating animal welfare into policy and for developing economic models that reflect multispecies well-being. It calls for a shift toward coexistence and shared prosperity—an economy grounded in compassion, interdependence, and justice for all sentient beings.