I struggle a lot with the idea of zero growth. It is not the same thing as reducing consumption but that is part of it. I have been thinking a lot about how growth is just an offshoot of population growth. If we want a zero growth or circular economy then we must have zero population growth.

But a zero growth economy means that there is no need for new technology because we have what we need and we need what we have. That means there is no need for investment. That means that banks will not be able to make loans. That means zero interest rates. That means no mortgages, car loans, new business loans, etc. No R&D. No new tech.

Companies want us to buy things so that they can make money and governments want it so that people can have jobs and pay taxes so we can have roads and hospitals and armies and other things that people want.

We can have economic growth that does not necessarily mean increasing our resource consumption. Green growth, as it were. However, it is only truly green if we have zero population growth. Thinkers for centuries have been struggling with how to deal with ever increasing resource pressure brought on by population growth (Hardin for example). So far the investment and growth system has kept the tech ahead of societal collapse. I tend to think we are running out of time to find new solutions but the answer may just be MORE growth to generate MORE tech, not less.

Thanks for the interesting read!