In the first week of September 3000 people gathered in Leipzig for intensive discussions on how to free the global economy from its obsession with endless growth. The Fourth International conference on Degrowth attracted a combination of academics and activists from 74 countries.
Since the term ‘degrowth’ seems odd and mystifying to many people, its votaries have come up with some quick and catchy explanations.
Such as: “Your recession is not my degrowth” and “The rich must degrow so that the poor may grow”.
These catch-phrases are intended to clarify that the Degrowth platform is not about shrinking economies. It is instead about creating different forms of economic dynamism which are in synch with two hard truths.
One, there cannot be infinite economic growth on a finite planet.