Prosperity without growth: a contradiction in terms

For two centuries, life expectancy has surged, the food supply has easily outstripped a rising population and science has advanced tremendously. But are the costs of growth beginning to outweigh the benefits? Critics point to rising inequality, and insist people are becoming no happier, while mental illness and obesity are rife. In this fascinating head-to-head, economics journalist and author Daniel Ben-Ami argues with professor of sustainable development, Tim Jackson against a culture of limits. To tackle poverty he explains, we need more growth not less. We are living longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives than ever before -- including billions of people in the poorer countries and economic progress has provided huge benefits for humanity.

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News & Politics

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• WORLDwrite
• WORLDbytes
• news
• alternative
• video
• politics
• online
• Citizen TV
• Battle of Ideas 2010
• growth
• economic development
• progress
• material wealth
• poverty
• happiness
• health
• economy
• inequality
• equality
• mortality
• poor
• developing world
• consumerism
• prosperity
• Daniel Ben-Ami
• Tim Jackson

[wasauchimmerful]

I think both speakers are right. Actually I don’t understand why we shouldn’t do both, savings where it is necessary , and at the same time try to develop new technologies to solve problems like sustainable energy sources. Of course does the third world have the right to develop further on, so as every country has the right and the need to raise there living standards.

[remather]

I do not agree that we should limit growth. While it is true that many of us are much better off than the generations before us, this is not the case for all people. Some people continue to be plagued with disease & poverty. These things are still present in much of the world and will continue. The expansive growth we have experience in the last century has led to a lot of prosperity but one can only imagine how much more prosperous we could all be with the continuation of that growth.