Just to be clear: the economic contraction that's happening right now is *not* degrowth. If you're ever confused, you can consult this handy list of questions:
1. Is it part of a coherent policy to reduce ecological impact and improve well-being? If not, then it's not degrowth.
1. Is it part of a coherent policy to reduce ecological impact and improve well-being? If not, then it's not degrowth.
2. Does it target ecologically destructive and socially less necessary production (i.e., of SUVs, arms, beef, advertising, planned obsolescence)?
If not (i.e., if it closes socially vital sectors like education, gyms, cafes, places for conviviality), then it's not degrowth.
If not (i.e., if it closes socially vital sectors like education, gyms, cafes, places for conviviality), then it's not degrowth.
3. Does it introduce policies to prevent mass unemployment? Say, a shorter working week, a job guarantee, and retraining programs?
If not (i.e., if millions of people have lost their livelihoods), then it's not degrowth.
If not (i.e., if millions of people have lost their livelihoods), then it's not degrowth.
4. Does it come along with policies to reduce inequality and share national income more fairly?
If not (i.e., if it makes rich people richer and makes inequality worse), then it's not degrowth.
If not (i.e., if it makes rich people richer and makes inequality worse), then it's not degrowth.
5. Is there investment in universal public services, to improve health and education and ensure everyone can access the goods they need to flourish?
If not (i.e., if there are austerity measures still in place), then it's not degrowth.
If not (i.e., if there are austerity measures still in place), then it's not degrowth.
6. Is it part of a shift toward community, conviviality, commons and care?
If not (i.e., if there is a lockdown that prevents people from working and playing together), then it's probably not degrowth.
If not (i.e., if there is a lockdown that prevents people from working and playing together), then it's probably not degrowth.
7. Is it part of a plan to achieve a rapid transition to renewable energy, restore soils and biodiversity, and reverse ecological breakdown?
If not (i.e., if the government is bailing out fossil fuel companies and airlines), then it's not degrowth.
If not (i.e., if the government is bailing out fossil fuel companies and airlines), then it's not degrowth.
We have a word for what's happening right now: recession. Recessions happen when growth-dependent economies stop growing.
What we need is to build a different kind of economy altogether: an economy organized around human well-being rather than around perpetual growth.
What we need is to build a different kind of economy altogether: an economy organized around human well-being rather than around perpetual growth.
