

Will the end of economic growth come by design — or disaster? | Gaya Herrington
26 snips Dec 9, 2024
In this insightful discussion, Gaya Herrington, an environmentalist and economist, challenges the notion of endless economic growth. She advocates for reimagining our economy to prioritize well-being and sustainability over mere growth. Herrington explores the paradox of growth, its detrimental impacts on society and the environment, and proposes cooperative models that empower communities. By shifting our focus to 'enough for each,' she inspires a vision for a more equitable and sustainable future, asking whether we can achieve this transformation by design rather than disaster.
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Growth vs. Well-being
- Gaya Herrington questions why poverty and pollution persist despite innovation.
- She argues that the current economic system prioritizes growth over well-being and environmental care.
Limits to Growth
- The "Limits to Growth" model predicted societal breakdown around the present day due to continuous growth.
- Herrington's analysis confirmed this, showing growth halting around 2040, followed by declines in well-being.
Decoupling and the End of Growth
- Technology won't save us, as there's no real decoupling of economic growth from resource use and pollution.
- The choice isn't about growing or not, but whether the end of growth will be by design or disaster.