Degrowth

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.