Why the IB Should Consider using the Positive Peace Framework

The Positive Peace Framework is not a "peace studies" framework that needs to be grafted onto economics. It is an economic and institutional framework that describes the systems enabling prosperous societies.

The Eight Pillars Are Economic Concepts

Pillar	Definition	Economic Connection	Where Taught in IB Economics
1. Well-Functioning Government	Effective government provides high-quality services and regulation	Public goods provision, contract enforcement	Unit 2.9, 4.7, 4.9
2. Sound Business Environment	Strength of economic conditions that facilitate business operations	Property rights, market function	Unit 2.8, 4.7, 4.9
3. Equitable Distribution of Resources	Fair distribution of resources including equity of access	Inequality, inclusive growth	Unit 3.4, 4.9, 4.10
4. Acceptance of Rights of Others	Formal laws that guarantee rights and freedoms and social norms that support these	Social capital, transaction costs	Throughout (framing)
5. Good Relations with Neighbours	Peaceful relations with other states, regional integration	Trade, economic integration	Unit 4.1-4.4
6. Free Flow of Information	Independent media, transparent government, access to information	Market efficiency, accountability	Unit 2.10, 4.7
7. High Levels of Human Capital	Education, skills, health	Productivity, human capital development	Unit 3.4, 4.7, 4.9, 4.10
8. Low Levels of Corruption	Absence of corruption in government and business	Institutional quality, governance	Unit 4.7, 4.9, 4.10

Key Insight: Students already learn about all 8 pillars throughout standard IB Economics. The framework simply makes explicit that these factors create BOTH economic prosperity AND peaceful societies.

Every single pillar is a standard economics topic.

What the Framework Adds

The framework doesn't add new economic content. It provides:

1. Organizing principle - Shows how discrete topics connect as systems
2. Empirical validation - Demonstrates that these factors correlate with measurable outcomes (Global Peace Index data)
3. Real-world relevance - Illustrates why economic concepts matter for societal outcomes
4. Coherent narrative - Transforms topic lists into a story about how societies prosper