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The whole idea of degrowth is based on a strawman argument of what economic growth is and what mainstream economic theories describe as its causes. Worse yet, i
by dimitar 4y ago
The whole idea of degrowth is based on a strawman argument of what economic growth is and what mainstream economic theories describe as its causes. Worse yet, it attacks things that are useful for defeating challenges like hunger, global warming and pollution and offers no actual help for those causes. It is throwing the baby with the bathwater.
The strawman equates growth with additional non-renewable resource extraction + increased consumerism. Mainstream theories explain growth with increases productivity - producing more with the same inputs.
Let's examine a thought experiment - the world reverts to living as in the 18th century. It will be mass starvation as we will not be able to produce enough food and the surving people will clear the forests for firewood and land, exhaust the soils with primitive agriculture. Both humans and the environment will be much worse off.
- oblak 4y agoWith all due respect, it looks to me that you're the one presenting a straw man argument here. What's the point of (economic) growth if not to meet the demands of the consumerism? You gotta keep consuming stuff to fill the void that consuming stuff creates. There's nothing wrong with consuming less. Look at all the fat fucks on the streets. The needlessly big, loud, and fuel hungry vehicles. It's bad for all us.
- dimitar 4y agoSo fattening food and vehicles are the only possible goods and services? How about living longer and healthier? Education, preserving the environment, care for the sick, young and elderly, all of that can be much improved and if you have a bigger GDP.
- mattcwilson 4y agoThere can be cost bloat in all of those services, and if additional spend in those areas nets marginal or negligible additional outcomes, they might be “overgrown.” There’s an analogy here to code bloat and minimum viable product, I’m sure. You may find this interesting? https://slatestarcodex.com/2017/02/09/considerations-on-cost-disease/ https://slatestarcodex.com/2017/02/09/considerations-on-cost...