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Contradictions of Growth: Degrowth and Sustainable Development: A Critical Examination of Economic Growth Arguments
Jönköping University, School of Education and Communication, HLK, Global Studies.
2024 (English)Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (Two Years)), 15 credits / 22,5 HE creditsStudent thesis
Sustainable development
Sustainable Development
Abstract [en]

Growth is the economic model on which modern societies are built. These days, the belief in growth as sustainable development is being questioned: Which consequences of growth are desirable, and which are outdated or harmful? Growth negatively affects the environment, undermines social and environmental sustainability, and is linked to unfair socioeconomic structures. Since the environment is the underlying foundation of all human-made structures, considering a viable solution looms essential; hence, economic structures will be unable to endanger it. Climate change, in particular, presents a severe threat to the lives and livelihoods of humans, most of all the impoverished, which makes it a significant barrier to attempts to reduce poverty. The big institutions recognize the growth problem, and many climate agreements are already in place; however, economic structures remain business as usual. Neoclassical economic theory holds that inequality is a necessary condition for economic growth (Laffer, 2020; Friedman, 2009). Therefore, what a society may look like without growth is controversial. Characterizing development only by growth without considering its negative consequences can lead to the worsening of ecological degradation and undermine the long-term well-being of both human societies and the planet as a whole. The degrowth vision aims to limit human influence on nature and create just and equitable circumstances for people and the environment. Recognizing the harmful consequences of growth, it questions whether more growth in industrialized countries is necessary. It also questions whether a sustainable economic system that relies on growth in capitalist structures is even possible. This analysis brings about contradictions in the current model of growth with sustainability.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2024. , p. 97
Keywords [en]
Degrowth
National Category
Social Sciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-65279OAI: oai:DiVA.org:hj-65279DiVA, id: diva2:1875827
External cooperation
WEtell
Subject / course
HLK, Social Studies
Supervisors
Examiners
Available from: 2024-07-01 Created: 2024-06-24 Last updated: 2024-07-01Bibliographically approved

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