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Max Koch. Foto: Johan Persson.

Max Koch

Professor

Max Koch. Foto: Johan Persson.

Challenges for the degrowth transition: the debate about wellbeing

Author

  • Milena Buchs
  • Max Koch

Summary, in English

Degrowth scholars and activists have convincingly argued that degrowth in developed nations will need to be part of a global effort to tackle climate change, and to preserve the conditions for future generations’ basic needs satisfaction. However, the barriers to building a broader degrowth movement appear to be very entrenched at present. To improve the political feasibility of degrowth it is important to better understand these structural obstacles and develop arguments and strategies to address them. To contribute to the degrowth debate we focus in this paper on current generations in the rich countries and their concerns about possible short- to medium term wellbeing outcomes of degrowth. In particular, we highlight the ‘growth lock-in’ of current societies and how a transition away from this model might therefore affect wellbeing. We also argue that taking the basic human needs framework as a new ‘measuring rod’ for wellbeing outcomes is suitable for a degrowth context, but likely to clash with current expectations of ever improving health and wellbeing outcomes. We propose that deliberative forums on future needs satisfaction can help establish a ‘dialogue’ between current and future generations which could support cultural shifts on wellbeing thinking which will be much needed for advancing the cause for degrowth.

Department/s

  • School of Social Work

Publishing year

2019-01-08

Language

English

Pages

155-165

Publication/Series

Futures

Volume

105

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Elsevier

Topic

  • Social Sciences Interdisciplinary

Keywords

  • Degrowth
  • Deliberation
  • Future Generations
  • Happiness
  • Postgrowth
  • Universal Needs
  • Wellbeing

Status

Published

Project

  • The New Urban Challenge? Models of Sustainable Welfare in Swedish Metropolitan Cities
  • Sustainable Welfare for a New Generation of Social Policy

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0016-3287