People have a need, or hope, for improvement; of themselves, their station in life, their freedoms and affordances, etc. It doesn't need to be actual growth, a

People have a need, or hope, for improvement; of themselves, their station in life, their freedoms and affordances, etc. It doesn't need to be actual growth, as in population, mountains of 'goods' (which are getting less and less good these days), profits, etc.