Home / Summaries / Readings Government of Global Sustainability / degrowth-south-north

What does degrowth mean? A few points of clarification

6 important questions on What does degrowth mean? A few points of clarification

6 reasons why degrowth is the opposite of a recession: public goods and services

Degrowth seeks to expand universal public goods and services, such as healthcare, education, transportation and housing in order to decommodify the foundational goods that people need in order to lead flourishing lives. Recessions generally entail austerity measures (bezuinigingen) that cut spending on public services.

6 reasons why degrowth is the opposite of a recession: sustainability

Degrowth is part of a plan to achieve a rapid transition to renewable energy, restore soils and biodiversity, and reverse ecological breakdown. During recessions, governments typically abandon such objectives in order to instead focus on everything on getting growth, whatever the ecological cost.

Why can't degrowth be applied universally?

Because many poor countries need an increase in resources and energy use in order to meet human rights. Only high-income countries need to degrow. (countries that exceed the planetary boundaries).

What could be a negative affect of degrowth of the North on the economies of the South?

Many global South eonomies rely heavily on exports of raw material and manufactores to the North, if northern demand declines, their revenues will go down.

What happens if labour prices fell in the south?

Fair prices for workers in the South would entail degrowth in the North.

What does degrowth in the north mean for economies in the south?

It creates space for southern economies to shift away from their enforced role of export of cheap labour and raw materials, and to focus instead on building economies based on development and wellbeing. (degrowth in the north means decolonisation in the south).

The question on the page originate from the summary of the following study material:

Readings Government of Global Sustainability

View summary