Better Future with Michael Mezz 006 – Donnie Maclurcan on Post-Growth Economics & the Future Beyond Capitalism
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Dec 11, 2025 Donnie Maclurcan, founder of the Post-Growth Institute, dives into the intricacies of post-growth economics. He discusses how capitalism's insistence on accumulation leads to rising debt and inequality, creating systemic issues. Donnie highlights the potential of not-for-profit business models and credit unions, emphasizing their ability to redirect profits for community benefit. He imagines a post-capitalist economy, rooted in practices like asset-based community development and Indigenous wisdom, while urging listeners to engage with practical pathways for a more equitable future.
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Post-Growth Feels Like Nature's Circles
- Post-growth means shifting from linear, growth-dependent systems to circular, regenerative ones that mirror nature.
- People across cultures intuitively draw cyclic symbols for a healthy future, showing broad resonance.
Accumulation Versus Planetary Limits
- Capitalism's core principle is accumulation of private wealth, which conflicts with planetary limits.
- When money concentrates, debt and inequality necessarily increase elsewhere in the system.
Money Creation Creates Debt
- Most modern money is digital and created by banks when loans are issued, not by redistributing existing deposits.
- Every unit of money in circulation corresponds to an equivalent debt somewhere in the system.
