Prosperity without Growth Tim Jackson 8th October 2010 Berlin 1

The Dilemma of Growth Growth is unsustainable Rockstrom et al, Nature 461, Sept 2009 Growth is unsustainable 2

The Dilemma of Growth Growth is unsustainable De-growth is unstable 3

The Dilemma of Growth Growth is unsustainable De-growth is unstable the pursuit of labour productivity 4

The Myth of Decoupling 5

The Myth of Decoupling x 130 improvement CO2/$ < zero by 2100? Source: Prosperity without growth, Tim Jackson (London, Earthscan 2009) x 130 improvement CO2/$ < zero by 2100? 6

The Engine of Growth Firms Households Credit shareholder value creative destruction Firms Spending Income Increasing productivity Investment Novelty Price Credit Households status consumption a life without shame

A Better Nature? Novelty Other Self Tradition

Another Prosperity Prosperity consists in our ability to flourish as human beings – within the ecological limits of a finite planet material conditions: food , clothing, shelter social and psychological flourishing: identity, meaning the role of social goods and public spaces

Ecological Investment Ecological Enterprise Ecological Macroeconomics A Different Economy Ecological Investment Ecological Enterprise Ecological Macroeconomics 10

Ecological Investment low carbon transition ecological assets social goods decent livelihoods 11

Ecological Enterprise providing services building capabilities supporting communities treading lightly 12

The Productivity Dilemma Productivity growth in Europe 1985 - 2005 Ecological Enterprise Low-carbon, resource efficient economic activities that provide employment, support communities and contribute to human flourishing 13

Every search saves rainforest! Each free web search saves about 2.4 yd² of rainforest. We have already protected 13,690,860 yd²

Ecological Macroeconomics Ecosystems Ecological investment Ecosystem services ecological productivity Ecological enterprise Participation Capabilities improved flourishing People

Change the social logic Ecological Footsteps Governmentality makes sense of and unifies the less v more state positions ? Why? Because the pursuit of and necessity for distributed structures of administration and power is a direct effect from the hollowing out of state. Neo-liberal governmentality relies on a quite specific social conversation about the good life. Questioning that strikes at the fault lines of the ‘fractured’ state and represents a direct threat to governmentality. And hence elicits viscerality The potential to re-structure economic stability is key to escaping the dilemma of governance Establish the limits Fix the economics Change the social logic 16

Ecological Footsteps Establish the Limits Fix the Economics 1. Establishing clearly defined resource/emissions caps 2. Fiscal Reform for Sustainability 3. Promoting Technology Transfer and Ecosystem Protection Fix the Economics 4. Developing the macro-economics of sustainability 5. Investing in public assets and infrastructures 6. Increasing financial and fiscal prudence 7. Improving macro-economic accounting Change the social logic 8. Sharing the work and improving the work-life balance 9. Tackling systemic inequality 10 Measuring capabilities and flourishing 11 Strengthening human and social capital 12 Reversing the culture of consumerism Governmentality makes sense of and unifies the less v more state positions ? Why? Because the pursuit of and necessity for distributed structures of administration and power is a direct effect from the hollowing out of state. Neo-liberal governmentality relies on a quite specific social conversation about the good life. Questioning that strikes at the fault lines of the ‘fractured’ state and represents a direct threat to governmentality. And hence elicits viscerality The potential to re-structure economic stability is key to escaping the dilemma of governance 17

‘The crisis doesn’t only make us free to imagine other models, another future, another world. It obliges us to do so.’ President Sarkozy, September 2009 http://www.earthscan.co.uk/pwg