> The claim that economic growth relies on consumer confidence (high levels of consumption) is also pretty suspect and relies a lot on how you define 'growth' -

> The claim that economic growth relies on consumer confidence (high levels of consumption) is also pretty suspect and relies a lot on how you define 'growth' - what's wrong with a steady-state economy with a stable human population and fixed levels of demand for goods and services, anyway? on a micro level, most people would prefer for their QOL to increase over time. I was happy to live like a college student when I was in college, but I wouldn't be happy to live that way as a 35 yo. this can't happen for everyone without some amount of growth. you rightly call out that people often spend money on temporary kicks that don't actually improve their QOL. but if you take a more intentional approach to spending, there are lots of opportunities to exchange money for less stress or more free time. for example, not everyone can afford an in-unit washer/dryer, but it sure is nice to have one. and then on a macro level, there is the unfortunate reality that we are a tribal species, constantly locked in a prisoner's dilemma with the other tribes. the more tribes onboard to the "steady state" model, the greater the incentive to defect and outgrow/dominate the others.