Postgrowth and Wellbeing

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xv

   PDF

2. Introduction

   • Milena Büchs, Max Koch

   Pages 1-8

3. Capitalist Development and the Growth Paradigm

   • Milena Büchs, Max Koch

   Pages 9-24

4. Growth and the Welfare State as We Know It

   • Milena Büchs, Max Koch

   Pages 25-37

5. Critiques of Growth

   • Milena Büchs, Max Koch

   Pages 39-56

6. Postgrowth and Human Wellbeing

   • Milena Büchs, Max Koch

   Pages 57-87

7. The Generation of Human Wellbeing: Social Practices Theory

   • Milena Büchs, Max Koch

   Pages 89-102

8. Welfare in a Global Steady-State Economy

   • Milena Büchs, Max Koch

   Pages 103-123

9. Conclusions

   • Milena Büchs, Max Koch

   Pages 125-133

10. Back Matter

    Pages 135-144

    PDF

This book presents a detailed and critical discussion about how human wellbeing can be maintained and improved in a postgrowth era. It highlights the close links between economic growth, market capitalism, and the welfare state demonstrating that, in many ways, wellbeing outcomes currently depend on the growth paradigm. Here the authors argue that notions of basic human needs deserve greater emphasis in debates on postgrowth because they are more compatible with limits to growth. Drawing on theories of social practices, the book explores structural barriers to transitions to a postgrowth society, and ends with suggestions for policies and institutions that could support wellbeing in the context of postgrowth. This thought-provoking work makes a valuable contribution to debates surrounding climate change, sustainability, welfare states and inequality and will appeal to students and scholars of social policy, sociology, political science, economics, political ecology and humangeography.

• degrowth
• Welfare States
• Climate change
• steady state economy
• secular stagnation
• postgrowth
• the growth paradigm
• sustainable welfare
• ecological economics
• social practice theory
• measures of wellbeing
• eco-social policies
• welfare economics
• environmental policy
• planetary boundaries
• Limits to growth
• subjective and objective wellbeing
• human needs
• adaptive preferences
• loss aversion

“Post-growth and Well-being is a timely and systematic account of the post-growth literature. The book methodically highlights important social science theories and approaches towards a sustainable economy and the implications for both environmental and human well-being. … Overall the authors present complicated and, arguably, potentially disempowering ideas to the reader in a clear and concise manner … .” (Rachel Manning, Environmental Values, Vol. 27 (06), December, 2018)

“This concise and comprehensible book provides a very gratifying and manageable reading experience. The structure of the book is coherent with short chapters each beginning with an abstract and ending with an informative conclusion. … highly recommended reading for all interested in the future of welfare systems and the sustainability of income protection.” (Tuuli Hirvilammi, Basic Income Studies, July, 2018)

“Postgrowth and Wellbeing should serve as a reference work for scholars, students and activists engaged in supporting societal transitions towards post-growth societies. Büch and Koch … stress that, unless the socioeconomic, technological and political articulations framing unsustainable practices are addressed simultaneously, basic needs for health and autonomy may suffer.” (Monica Guillen-Royo, Ecological Economics, Vol. 146, April, 2018)

 “Transition to a postgrowth economic order is now becoming much more widely accepted as essential to long term social and environmental wellbeing.  But the implications for the quality and provision of welfare have hitherto been little researched.  This conceptually challenging but at the same time empirically grounded discussion provides a much needed addition to the literature of the degrowth movement. “ (Kate Soper, Emerita Professor of Philosophy at London Metropolitan University)

 “Like it or not, growth may be coming to an end. How to sustain welfare without growth is a core question for our times. This book presents the boldest attempt to think what viable welfare systems could look like in global steady state.” (Giorgos Kallis, Research Professor at the Autonomous University of Barcelona)

 “At a time when leading economists are horrified by the specter of secular stagnation affecting advanced capitalist economies, theorists of “postgrowth” a

nd a global “steady state economy” embrace the idea that its arrival might even enhance human wellbeing and need satisfaction. But who knows what kind of views our future selves, even our descendents, may form about the requisites of wellbeing and the good life? Are we trapped in the social practices of mindless consumerism/productivism and GDP fetishism or ready to consider the worth of an economy that minimizes ecologically harmful levels of resource extraction and waste production? Büchs and Koch provide a concise, systematic and crystal clear account of what social sciences (including psychology and philosophy) have to offer on these questions – a critical account that is clinically clean of jargon and alarmist gesturing.” (Claus Offe, Professor Emeritus of Political Sociology at the Hertie School of Governance)

“Endless economic growth will destroy the planet but a post-growth economy threatens security and wellbeing. Büchs and Koch provide an honest and concise

accoun

t of the dilemma and a guide to some ways forward.” (Ian Gough, Emeritus Professor of Social Policy at the University of Bath, Visiting Professor at the London School of Economics)

 “Concise and well-written, this book offers an historical and comparative perspective on the changing relationship between wellbeing, economic growth, and ecological perspectives as they intersect with the welfare state. Scholars, university students, and activists interested in the relationship between capitalism, environmental policy, and the welfare state should read this book.” (Daniel Béland, Canada Research Chair in Public Policy and Professor at the Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy)

• Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom

  Milena Büchs

• Lund University, Lund, Sweden

  Max Koch

Milena Büchs is Associate Professor in Sustainability, Economics and Low Carbon Transitions, University of Leeds, UK.



Max Koch is Professor in Social Policy at Lund University, Sweden. 

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