Degrowth is a
movement that attempts to supplant our current societal goals of continual
economic growth with the growth of relationship.
Our society and
economy is based on the assumption of continual growth, so much so that when it
is reported that we only have a 1% increase in economic growth over the quarter
it is a disappointment and a worry. This model and method is unsustainable. We
are living on a finite planet and thus there is a limit to growth. Considering the
fact that our current growth model is built on using planetary resources, many
of which are non-renewable and/or used in excess. contributing to the global
environmental issues. This means that growth needs to be tempered and pursued
in a different manner.
Thus Degrowth, a
movement based on community and sharing. More and more we attempt to turn our
lives into Islands, our own homes, our own kitchens, our own cars all full of
our own stuff. But this also helps keep us from belonging, and it makes us
happy and proud to not need to rely on anyone else.
There is a
difficulty in that our world view has been creating workaholics, workaholics
who have been developing consumption habits to support their excess incomes.
This shift in life is a very hard thing to do especially for anyone who has
been successful in advancing in our current world view. However this will be
made easier by a handful of trends
First is the failure
of the system for the aging population, and their inability to retire. Thus
they stay in the job market, This means there are less jobs for the young
generations, especially full time career jobs. So the age that we get our first
full time job continues to go up. Eventually we will have to work fewer hours
to keep everyone employed.
This shortening of
the work week would lead to lower incomes and this would force us to live
closer, closer to work, closer to the land, closer to family, and closer as
humanity. We would be unable to own everything ourselves, so band together to
split the costs.
Personally I think
this is exciting, When we get to the point of being able to introduce ourselves
to someone else without our major marker of self being ones career. And maybe
what we prefer to do with Wednesday the newest addition to our weekend.
