"Our culture is centered on a myth of economic growth: if we stop growing, that means we’re failing. Under conventional wisdom, growth is not only considered "good," it is seen as the most effective means to lift millions of people out of poverty and to ensure prosperity and opportunity for all. And in many places and for many people, it has been extraordinarily successful in achieving this goal.
But as we approach a global population of 7 billion and a world GDP of $70 trillion, we must increasingly consider the implications of this continuous quest for growth, not just for Earth's finite resources and fragile ecosystems but for societal well-being. Increasingly, economic growth has become an end in itself rather than a means to societal betterment.
Yet how do we move beyond growth when our economic system and culture take for granted the idea that perpetual growth is not only necessary, but something to celebrate?
The Illogic of Perpetual Growth
Nothing makes the absurdity of perpetual growth clearer than the short video “The Impossible Hamster.” If we’re not careful, we risk the possibilities of environmental and climatic disruption and future economic contraction, as the resources and ecosystem services that we take for granted are increasingly strained under the pressure of 7 billion people. The best way for us to reduce the threats of these system changes is to start an intentional effort to move beyond growth, and to reduce the throughput of our highly consumptive economies."
This is an excerpted portion of a larger article from "Rethinking Growth" with more fresh perspectives on redefining growth. Today's Encinitas You Need Us post includes a TED talk from the same article, recommended in Councilwoman Teresa Barth's newsletter last week.
