The idea that growth is a good thing is being seriously challenged by those who argue that policymakers should aim for zero growth, or even degrowth, i.e. shrinking economies. Having said that, it won’t be easy to achieve a stable economy or degrowth. To start with, we need to change the way we think about economic success. The political debate is led by the parties, who compete to promise voters the best growth strategy. Language is important, so when GDP rises, it’s good news, and when it falls, it’s bad news. Countries are judged according to their position in international growth rankings. The change required is therefore extremely profound. Western governments assume they have all the time in the world to change their usual patterns, but the truth is they don’t.
