Monday, October 28, 2024

Prosperity without Growth

Prosperity Without Growth: Economics for a Finite Planet by Tim Jackson

Our current economic model encourages us to consume, consume, consume. We are constantly seeking new things and disposing of old. We are using large amounts of energy to make our lives easier. Our economy depends on GDP growing. Is this the best?

This book spends a long time describing the economy and identifying the problem. The "solution" is a short bit at the end. The author advocates capping resource use and encouraging more human-scale work. It sounds reasonable, but the details can be a challenge. Will the developed companies just "import" more high energy and resource use from other countries? What about resources that we have not yet identified as valuable? The big challenge is balancing desires with environmental needs.

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