Why Growth Is Problematic

In this episode, Timothée Parrique joins us for a discussion on degrowth. We begin the conversation with explaining the concept of degrowth, looking at its history, and really unpacking what it is and what it isn’t. We talk about degrowth’s two-fold agenda to both downscale production and consumption for environmental reasons, as well as its potential for removing the profit-motive as a central concern in how we organize society. We outline the differences between degrowth and recessions, the problem with GDP as a measurement tool for success, how degrowth can help to reduce poverty in certain contexts, the benefits of a dynamic steady state economy, where the degrowth movement is today, and much more. 

Timothée Parrique is an economist originally from Versailles, France. He is currently a researcher at HEC Lausanne – The Faculty of Business and Economics of the University of Lausanne in Switzerland. He works on macro-ecological planning in Switzerland as part of the STRIVE research project. He's also the author of Slow Down or Die: The Economics of Degrowth. 

Further resources:

• Timothée Parrique
• Slow Down or Die: The Economics of Degrowth, by Timothée Parrique
• The Limits to Growth

Related episodes:

• How Degrowth Will Save the World with Jason Hickel
• Doughnut Economics with Kate Raworth
• Better Lives for All w/ Jason Hickel
• Buen Vivir with Eduardo Gudynas
• A World Without Profit with Jennifer Hinton
• Documentary #8: Worker Cooperatives Pt. 1 – Widening Spheres of Democracy
• Documentary #8: Worker Cooperatives Pt. 2 – Islands within a Sea of Capitalism
• Life Beyond the Clock with Jenny Odell

Intermission music: "Atlas" by Muma

Upstream is entirely listener funded. No ads, no promotions, no grants—just Patreon subscriptions and listener donations. We couldn't keep this project going without your support. Subscribe to our Patreon for bi-weekly bonus episodes, access to our entire back catalog of Patreon episodes, and for Upstream stickers and bumper stickers at certain subscription tiers. Through your support you’ll be helping us keep Upstream sustainable and helping to keep this whole project going—socialist political education podcasts are not easy to fund so thank you in advance for the crucial support. patreon.com/upstreampodcast

For more from Upstream, visit www.upstreampodcast.org and follow us on Instagram and Bluesky. You can also subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.