7. Growth Debate

Question 1

Name 3 of the 4 key thinkers of the growth debate

Answer 1

1. Malthus - Malthusian limits to growth
2. Galbraith - The affluent society
3. Meadows - Limits to growth
4. Klein/Kallis/Hickel - Degrowth

Question 2

Name the 5 perspectives in the growth debate

Answer 2

1. Immaterialist
2. Pessimist
3. Technocrat
4. Opportunist
5. Optimist

Question 3

Describe the perspective of the immateralist/moralist.

Answer 3

• Growth is undesirable.
• Growth does not necessarily lead to increased well-being.
• If growth leads to environmental destruction, then sufficient reason to avoid growth.

Question 4

Describe the perspective of the pessimist.

Answer 4

• There are limits to growth.
• Continued growth is ultimately impossible on finite planet.
• Reminiscent of the Law of Thermodynamics and Limits to Growth.

Question 5

Describe the perspective of the technocrat

Answer 5

• Growth & environmental protection can be harmonized.
• Believers in value addition.
• History show human creativity and problem solving.
• We haven’t yet tried good policies.

Question 6

Describe the perspective of the opportunist/skeptic

Answer 6

• Growth & environmental degradation are inevitable.
• We should enjoy it while we can.
• Humankind is destined to have a short and intense life

Question 7

Describe the perspective of the optimist.

Answer 7

• Growth is even necessary for environmental policy and protection.
• Supporters of EKC.

Question 8

We can we not end the growth debate? Name 3 reasons.

Answer 8

1. Insufficient evidence
2. Future doesn’t resemble past
3. We haven’t tried serious policies yet

Question 9

Name 3 shortcomings of GDP

Answer 9

1. Does not divide between costs and benefits
2. Does not correct for changes in stocks
3. Ignores income inequality, basic needs, human adaptation, relative income
4. Neglects informal economy
5. Does not capture environmental and ecosystem damages and depletion of natural resources

Question 10

What is ISEW?

Answer 10

• Index of Sustainable Economic Welfare
• A ‘green GDP’
• Similar to happiness indicators
• Concluded that welfare doesn’t increase when GDP grows

Question 11

Name 2 mechanisms to decouple

Answer 11

1. Substitution & reuse, recycling
2. Green investments
3. Adoption and innovation of technological improvements
4. Sectoral shifts to clean activities

Question 12

Name 3 critiques on degrowth

Answer 12

• Confusing due to multiple interpretations
• Explicit message “come down” - recipe for political suicide
• “Consumption down” is vague
• Overly pessimistic
• Reverse causality
• Degrowers claim policies fail, however, the policies have never really been implemented
• It might be dangerous to degrow because of how extreme it is

Question 13

Why is degrowth supposedly popular among laypersons?

Answer 13

Because it criticizes capitalism.

Question 14

Name 3 characteristics of a-growth.

Answer 14

• No need to choose a perspective, evidence is inconclusive
• Agnostic towards growth
• Does not consider GDP a social welfare indicator
• Selective sectoral growth/decline
• Agrowth enlarges search space for progress
• Can facilitate political support