Debra Efroymson

Debra Efroymson is the executive director of the Institute of Wellbeing, Bangladesh, and author of "Beyond Apologies: Defining and Achieving an Economics of Wellbeing."

The power of goodness

People seem to love making negative remarks about societal breakdown and people’s lack of concern for others.

2w ago

Cars are killing Earth, in more ways than we think

Cars are harmful to our health and to our environment.

1m ago

Are school buses the answer to our traffic woes?

There are plenty of great examples of improving the traffic situation around schools and making the children's lives better.

3m ago

Public health must prioritise disease prevention

There is a common confusion around the subject of health.

4m ago

Helping street children requires a holistic, evidence-based approach

The focus of local governments should be ensuring that child protection protection services are prioritised.

7m ago

Democracy dies undefended

What can we learn from the American disaster? First, that democracy isn’t easy.

7m ago

World Cities Day 2024: Cities should be for people, not cars

It is time to greatly restrict the use of private motorised vehicles and make our cities more liveable.

7m ago

The wisdom of youth

If we have learnt nothing else in the last several months, it is not to underestimate the power of young people.

8m ago
June 21, 2023
June 21, 2023

Why Dhaka should invest more in bicycle lanes

Cycling infrastructure is far less expensive to build than roads, flyovers, elevated expressways, and parking garages for cars.

April 19, 2023
April 19, 2023

We, as humans, must stop adapting to the unbearable

We complain endlessly about problems, but are adamant in our belief that nothing better is possible.

April 9, 2023
April 9, 2023

If only breathing were optional

I would love to believe that I’m just having a severe reaction to dust, or that it’s all normal seasonal illness, but the evidence suggests otherwise.

March 2, 2023
March 2, 2023

A Licence to Kill

Why is it possible to manufacture and advertise a car that goes faster than the maximum allowable speed?

November 7, 2022
November 7, 2022

The price of comfort

The devastation is already here and now; the longer we wait, the greater and sooner the future damage

October 29, 2022
October 29, 2022

Learning to live with less?

In some neighbourhoods, when the power goes out, people emerge from their apartments and socialise.

September 22, 2022
September 22, 2022

Burn less fuel, build better cities

Imagine for a moment our city without cars, but with high-quality public transport, people zipping by on bicycles, others on foot.

September 7, 2022
September 7, 2022

How can Dhaka solve its traffic problem?

If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard that “traffic was particularly bad today,” I could have retired already

August 22, 2022
August 22, 2022

Systems thinking: A solution to our many global crises

The crises we face are terrifying. And yet I can still imagine an infinitely better life that would solve many of our problems.

August 19, 2022
August 19, 2022

Is violence against women only a women’s issue?

People in power also need to be held accountable for addressing violence in their institutions, be they religious, educational or other.