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The degrowth theory movement and its basic principles
The consequences of industrialization on the environment and the increasingly evident inequality in the distribution of wealth, led in the 70s different economists and theorists, regardless of the political sign of their society of origin, to admit that, when increase the production of goods and services, it is necessary to also increase the consumption of natural resources.
Therefore, if consumption is faster than the regeneration of the resources used, it could lead to the depletion of the planet in a few years. Here comes the degrowth theory to stop this trend.
The price of this ecological deficit is increasingly evident: it takes the form of prolonged droughts, deforestation, soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, depletion of fisheries, pollution of the oceans and, especially, climate change …
We live as if we had 1.7 planets Earth at our disposal
Actually, to date, according to WWF, we live as if we had 1.7 planets Earth at our disposal. Put another way, we are currently using resources at a rate that requires having 1.7 planets if we want to keep the production-consumption relationship in harmony:
From this map we can see data on the ecological footprint worldwide and by country.
What is degrowth theory
In response to uncontrolled growth, the economic degrowth theory who defends that the economic sustainability is compatible with the preservation of natural resources if the consumption of goods and energy is reduced.
The degrowth concept, therefore, it is a current of thought that advocates a regular and controlled decrease in production, in order to establish a new relationship of balance between humans and nature.
Two articles of interest and on the same topic:
- The concept of circular economy
- The blue economy concept
Decrease is not sustainable development
The degrowth theory should not be related to the concept of sustainable development since, given the limitations of the Earth's resources, it would be unsustainable for all the nations of the world to try to reach the western level of consumption.
It is estimated that currently 20 percent of the planet's population accounts for 85 percent of natural resources.
The decrecentistas, therefore, start from the conviction that it is not a question of increasing - even homogenizing - the level of consumption of the different countries, but of applying criteria of frugality, reduction of production and the processing of resources. Is he sustainable degrowth!
The pillars of Decrease
A well-known French economist, Serge Latouche, defined the following basic criteria of degrowth theory:
- Reassess individualistic and consumerist values and replace them with cooperative ideals.
- Reconceptualize the current lifestyle.
- Restructure production systems and social relations according to the new scale of values.
- Relocate: it is intended to reduce the impact generated by the intercontinental transport of goods and simplify the local management of production.
- Redistribute wealth.
- Reduce consumption, simplify the lifestyle of citizens. The Decrease is committed to a return to the small and the simple, to those tools and techniques adapted to the needs of use, easy to understand, interchangeable and modifiable.
- Reuse and recycle: extend the life of products to avoid waste. Avoid outdated product design.
Scheduled obsolescence
This is the name given to the end-of-life planning for a product after a period of time calculated in advance by the manufacturer, so that this product becomes useless or unusable when that period of time expires.
The planned obsolescence it is consistent with the consumerist way of life and with growth at all costs, since it implies a continuous demand for new goods, a circumstance that stimulates production in an extraordinary way.
The degrowthists reject planned obsolescence, defending recycling and reuse.
Reviews received
The ultimate goal of degrowth can be summarized as "Live better with less"But critics of the theory argue that economic growth creates jobs, improves education and public health, and ultimately provides a better quality of life.
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