Thread by @g_kallis

'Is degrowth against growth in poor countries'? There are many misunderstandings circulating on this issue, so time for a ... THREAD @MaxCRoser @BrankoMilan

Those of us who write about degrowth write first and foremost about the part of the world we live in - Europe and North America. We do not see ourselves part of the expertocracy that feels entitled telling Africa or the rest of the world what they should be doing. /2

Our call about degrowth applies to Europe and North America. Degrowth means stopping the pursuit of GDP growth, prioritizing wellbeing and the environment. This will likely have negative effects on output, hence a need for policies for "managing without growth" (Peter Victor) /3

By degrowth we mean also a radical reduction of energy and resource use in high-income countries (again: also likely to reduce output and slow down growth). Since we do not believe in high-tech fairytales, we do not see any other just path to planetary sustainability. /4

Without a slowdown in the 'overdeveloped', high-income countries which should take the responsibility for their ecological/carbon debts, low-income countries are condemned to a future of poverty and climate calamity. /5

For the climate responsibilities of high-income countries, see here thelancet.com/journals/lanpl…. Why this requires degrowth, explained here kevinanderson.info/blog/avoiding-… 6

For the ecological debt of high-income countries, see here: pnas.org/content/105/5/… /7

'Degrowth' in high-income countries means therefore more ecological space to develop, or better said, to breathe for low-income countries. /8

Will this development include GDP growth? GDP is a terrible wellbeing indicator, that notoriously mixes goods with bads. If we are serious about abolishing the pursuit of GDP growth in the North, we cannot expect countries in the South to count their progress in GDP. /9

Now there is a tautological argument which defines poverty in terms of average income, and uses then this as proof that average income must increase to combat poverty. /10

The question is not whether the incomes of poor people should increase (of course they should!), but whether poverty reduction should be pursued through generalized growth, or through specifics: providing adequate water, energy, housing, food - good education, etc. /11

In all likelihood, providing for basic needs when they are not met, will increase GDP (but who cares about GDP?). This though is the reverse causation than one that claims let's increase gdp IN ORDER to provide for the basics. /12

Note that it is not a comfortable elite from Europe that criticizes the imposition of the model of growth-based development on the Global South. Check for example Senegalese Felwine Sarr's magnificent "Afrotopia" for alternative visions for Africa - upress.umn.edu/book-division/… /13

Familiarize yourself please with the work of Aminata Traore. With the Arusha declaration. Or Tanzania's Julius Nyerere theguardian.com/commentisfree/… /14

And do not be surprised when you find African intellectuals and activists who think degrowth resonates with their own contexts - dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/20… 15

For the record: the academic who coined the term 'degrowth', the French Serge Latouche, was an economic anthropologist working in development programs in Africa - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serge_Lat… /16

Latouche was part of the post-development school of thought, a school that criticized the imposition of Western ideologies (and Western-designed programs) of growth in Africa or Latin America - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postdevel… /17

The post-development school was giving theoretical ammunition to the political programs of people like Sankara, Fannon, Neyrere or Gandhi who all rejected growthism. Indeed one can well argue that degrowth is 'Gandhism' adopted to the European context. /18

All this long detour is to say that yes, degrowth implies charting alternatives to growth-based development in low-income countries. This is NOT the same as saying that degrowth is against the rise of incomes of poor people in low-income countries. /19

Redistribution from North to South also does not mean paying charity, or taking money out of the pockets of workers here to pay workers there. It means ending up systematic practices of exploitation -

https://twitter.com/jasonhickel/status/1364207102311493638?s=20

/20

All this can happen NOW - much faster than the promised growth that can take decades to materialize & 'trickle down" (if ever). Ever since Malthus, the promise of future growth has been used as an excuse against redistributing now /21

A final note. To make confidently public statements about economic growth, I went back to school at the age of 40 (while professor of environment). In my 'free' time, I did a master's in economics in a reputable mainstream school, sitting in long agonizing math exams. /22

I don't expect those who profess about degrowth on twitter to do the same and complete our master's on degrowth here in Barcelona (though you are very welcome to do so! check here for admissions uab.cat/web/postgradua…) /23

I do expect though from fellow academics to do a minimum homework and read something longer than a tweet or blogpost before expressing strong opinions about degrowth. There are tens of books and hundreds of papers. Our 'case for degrowth' can be read in an evening. FIN