What Price Growth?

What Price Growth?

The economy of this country, and probably the entire world, is built on population growth and the ever increasing demand for products and services. Capital is invested on the supposition that such growth will continue into the future.

State governors, city mayors and chambers of commerce all clamor for “growth”, i.e. more businesses, more tourists, more construction, more sales and more jobs. All well and good, but few are giving any thought to the negative aspects of growth.

When the population grows, so do the problems of waste disposal, polution of air and water, traffic congestion, destruction of forests and natural habitat, and drain on the water supply. Is it worth it? Can we learn to live with zero growth?