The Benefits & Drawbacks of Growth Unit 5.4.3 Can Growth be Bad?

Learning Outcomes To understand that economic growth can create a number of problems. To apply the concepts of trade-offs and externalities to understanding the costs of economic growth.

Drawbacks of Economic Growth Economic growth puts pressure on the resources in an economy. Growth requires more resources, particularly energy. Non-renewable resources such as copper and oil will run out faster. As these resources start to run out the price of them will go up.

Drawbacks of Economic Growth There are other issues Pollution (not just air, also noise, light etc) Congestion More intensive farming may use dangerous pesticides Destruction of green space Social costs such as people being moved from their homes to make way for development