Growth

A History and a Reckoning

De: Daniel Susskind

Narrado por: Daniel Susskind

Economic growth has freed billions from the struggle for subsistence. Yet prosperity has come at a price: environmental destruction, desolation of local cultures, the rise of vast inequalities, and destabilizing technologies. Faced with such damage, many now claim that the only way forward is through "degrowth," deliberately shrinking our economic footprint. Instead, Daniel Susskind argues, we must keep growth but redirect it, making it better reflect what we truly value.

Susskind shows how policymaking came to revolve around a single-minded quest for greater GDP. This is a recent development: economic growth was barely discussed until the second half of the twentieth century. And our understanding of what drives it is more recent still. Only lately have we come to see how humankind emerged from its millennia of stagnation: through the sustained discovery of powerful and productive new ideas. This insight undermines the mantra that "we cannot have infinite growth on a finite planet," for the world of ideas is infinitely vast. Yet we can no longer focus on its upsides alone. We must confront the tradeoffs, Susskind contends: sometimes, societies will have to deliberately pursue less growth for the sake of other goals. These will be moral decisions, not simply economic ones, demanding the engagement not just of politicians and experts, but of all citizens.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2024 Daniel Susskind (P)2024 Tantor

Meandering and ultimately unhelpful

The book is basically an explanation of the flaws with GDP, an identification of the negative side effects of economic growth, an analysis of the flaws of the degrowth movement, and then a list of random and ultimately unsatisfying pet projects and ideas that have nothing really to do with growth.

The author does not ask a meaningful question, nor does he offer any meaningful solutions.

Summary: growth for the sake of growth is limiting, so people should talk more about alternatives

Looking for a conclusion that will sell books

A weak understanding of the problems we face leading to unfounded conclusions. In 1970 this book may have been interesting, but it has no relevance to understanding the level of growth over the last 50 years.

Interesting and consistent story

This is a very provocative book about the importance of economic growth. It challenges the status quo and proposes an alternative to move forward.

Clear and concise

I really enjoyed this while taking a walk this afternoon. Was very informative and clear