My Reflection on Growth and Economic Development

I before finishing the book, the decline explained with simplicity of Carlos Taibo, bring my own reflection on the relationship between economic growth and development. From reading the book draws the conclusion that the decrease is not an alternative to the current model of economic growth but is the only feasible option to not take the collapse of Western societies and thus give an opportunity for other companies. Economic growth based on consumption of nonrenewable natural resources for the development of the economies of rich countries is now ecologically unsustainable. We have exceeded the planet's ecological limits: the ability to regenerate natural resources is threatened by our growth and economic development. Specifically, a depraved and suicidal economic model based on the illusion of unlimited growth independent of the limits of the ecology. An economy detached from the planet's ecology. That degree of independence of the economic system behind the irrational exploitation of the environment for economic purposes regardless of the devastating consequences for the ecosystems of the planet and for future generations.

The planet is a finite world. On a finite planet can not grow and grow without at some point do not stop growth. The growth has a limit, reached that limit, we can not grow indefinitely without going into a meltdown. Degrowth movements are aware of this fact: Economic growth must respect the ecological limits of the planet and should be subject to availability and the ecological needs of the planet. We must be accountable for the use of these natural resources do not only now but also in the future. Adopting an ecological view involves commitment to the entire cycle from extraction to the regeneration of those natural resources. Something not feasible in an economy based on continuous and unlimited growth in a finite world.

The use-or misuse-of the planet's natural resources by an economic system based on continuous growth, and to some extent exponentially to promote a false development of the rich countries of the northern hemisphere at the expense of the majority of the population poor countries of the south, leads us to question the consistency of a belief system that leads us to the planet's destruction and self-destruction. We must question the belief system that supports the ideology of growth, and therefore development. Questioning denounce this ideology involves lifestyle we've been carrying for decades without consequences for our material well-being. And that's where lies the key: the complaint active Western lifestyle, particularly American. The hyper lifestyle, wasteful and individualist is one who has consolidated and expanded the growth ideology, condemned to extinction other non-Western ways of life. The success of the ideology of growth lies in the process of consolidation and expansion of the lifestyle in Western countries first and then in emerging and non-Western, establishing both as a doctrine to follow to achieve that lifestyle to keep .

The decrease wants to reverse this trend not only the process of Westernization of the world but especially the imposition of ideology as the only growth that can promote development in poor countries.

Maria Dolores Fuentes.

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