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There's a finite need for ovens, or lamps, or whatever. In some countries, I'm sure that need isn't met, maybe everywhere, who knows. But at some point you can
by croon 9y ago
There's a finite need for ovens, or lamps, or whatever. In some countries, I'm sure that need isn't met, maybe everywhere, who knows.
But at some point you can't sell more product than what breaks down and needs replacing, which I would call maintenance mode, not growth.
At that point, you either start designing obsolescence into the products (arguably already done in both lamps and other various electric appliances), or you need to disrupt the industry to supply something worth replacing to, or you (or at least a majority of the workers) move to another industry where growth can happen.
I absolutely don't want to live in a society where electricity needs grow in perpetuity, or every house gets more and more lamps "just cuz".
The end goal for any company should be monopoly in their market, at which point they slash their workforce to just keep the market, and divest into another market (where they can then employ the workers again).
- ThomPete 9y agoGrowth isn't just about consumerism it's about human flourishing. We grow not just because we produce things we grow because we get better and better at using the resources around us which provide more flourishing for more and more humans. Without growth we can't do that as we won't have the surplus to invent and invest in new technologies. Improve medicine, explore space, optimize production methods, invent new energy method etc. for more and more people. Those require growth.