- Degrowth is a radical economic theory born in the 1970s.
- It broadly means shrinking rather than growing economies, to use less of the world’s dwindling resources.
- Detractors of degrowth say economic growth has given the world everything from cancer treatments to indoor plumbing.
- Supporters argue that degrowth doesn’t mean “living in caves with candles” – but just living a bit more simply.
Degrowth broadly means shrinking rather than growing economies, so we use less of the world’s energy and resources and put wellbeing ahead of profit.
The idea is that by pursuing degrowth policies, economies can help themselves, their citizens and the planet by becoming more sustainable.
Practical degrowth actions might include buying less stuff, growing your own food and using empty houses instead of building new ones, the website Economics Help suggests.
Degrowth as a term was coined in 1972 by Austrian-French social philosopher André Gorz, according to the website Degrowth.info. As a movement, degrowth started to take off in the early 2000s, according to media platform openDemocracy. Modern degrowth protagonists include French economist Serge Latouche, who argues that society’s current model of economic growth is unsustainable.
