Intelligence Squared The Great Slowdown and Why It's Good, with Danny Dorling and Linda Yueh
May 5, 2020
Danny Dorling, a geography professor at Oxford and author of 'Slowdown', joins economist and broadcaster Linda Yueh to discuss the implications of a global slowdown. They delve into declining fertility rates and GDP growth, proposing that this shift could lead to a more sustainable and stable world. The conversation touches on technological stagnation, food distribution issues, and the importance of reevaluating policy responses to demographic changes. Ultimately, they highlight the benefits of slowing down in both economic and creative realms.
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The Great Slowdown
- The Great Acceleration refers to the rapid growth in human population, GDP, and technological progress since the 1800s.
- This acceleration is now slowing down, which Dorling argues is positive for the planet and our well-being.
Decelerating Population Growth
- The current slowdown in population growth is driven by lower birth rates, not increased deaths.
- This is happening fastest in poorer countries due to increased access to education and contraception.
Food Security and Slowdown
- As population growth slows, predicting food needs becomes easier, potentially reducing famines.
- Maldistribution, not scarcity, causes starvation; we have enough food globally.