The hottest Degrowth Substack posts right now

Degrowth means living better with less stuff, focusing more on well-being than just economic growth. It suggests we should intentionally reduce production and consumption to fit within our planet's limits.
However, following the degrowth idea doesn't guarantee a perfect, eco-friendly world. It might not look like a dreamy utopia where nature and humanity perfectly blend together.
Research shows that reducing consumption to meet basic needs is challenging and requires significant changes in how we live. Simply downsizing isn't easy and can have complex implications.

Permaculture has technical success but lacks political impact.
Permaculture is at odds with capitalism due to its inefficiency in producing commodities.
Permaculture can contribute to eco-socialism and degrowth by offering sustainable solutions.

Continued energy growth, irrespective of the source, could lead to catastrophic levels of waste heat.
Global economic growth at 2.3% annually may hit a saturation point in 200 years due to resource constraints.
Physical limits to growth, driven by raw physics, will eventually necessitate radical changes to current economic, political, and social systems.

Capitalist growth prioritizes profit over human needs, leading to suffering and environmental degradation.
Degrowth eco-socialism advocates for reducing overall economic activity to align with human needs and sustainability.
Creating an egalitarian society through wealth redistribution and instituting socialism is crucial for a sustainable future.

The event is a book talk hosting Anthony Galluzzo about his new book 'Against the Vortex: Zardoz and Degrowth Utopias'
The book is a critique of society's techno-utopianism and offers a new path forward past industrialization
The event is on January 14, 2024, in Brooklyn at Spoonbill bookstore

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Some believe 'Degrowth Communism' is the answer to climate change, promoting shrinking the economy, but it may pose risks by lowering living standards globally.
Advanced countries show a trend of reducing CO2 emissions while still experiencing economic growth, indicating growth and technological progress are crucial solutions to climate change.
Karl Marx emphasized the potential of technology for growth, contrasting with the view that the economy would hit a 'stationary state'; however, he underestimated capitalism's ability to address its own challenges.

Focus on areas like medicine for improving human life and reducing suffering.
Expand education by democratizing and decommodifying it, emphasizing the love of learning.
Promote recreational activities that are meaningful and less destructive, moving away from commodification.

Wealthy economies should focus on well-being over endless GDP growth to reduce environmental impacts.
Ignoring the role of prices in economic coordination can hinder understanding and decision-making in the degrowth movement.
The degrowth agenda imposes subjective judgments on consumption habits, challenging the neutrality of economic analyses.

The Slow Revolution is about embracing a lifestyle with enoughness and meaningful nourishment.
Viewing our consumption habits as a form of addiction sheds light on the need for a therapeutic approach to promote sustainable living.
Degrowth Engineering suggests reimagining how engineers design products within the limits of economic, human, and ecological needs.