Brian Czech Archives – Page 7 of 9 – Center for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy

Thankful to be Back in the Steady-State Saddle

November 23, 2017/4 Comments/in Brian Czech, Economic Growth, Economic Policy, Steady State Economy, Sustainability, The Daly News /by Brian Czech

by Brian Czech

One thing about American holidays – there’s no mincing of words. Thanksgiving Day is as self-explanatory as it gets. And from where I write, it happens to be easy, giving thanks this time around. For starters, it’s a crisp fall day in Virginia!

But I’ve a bonus to be thankful for. Twenty days and three hours ago, I turned in my retirement papers at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service headquarters and immediately went to work as CASSE’s executive director.

No Mere Resolution: The Vermont Legislature and the Steady State Economy

May 27, 2016/2 Comments/in Brian Czech, Consumption, Economic Growth, Economic Policy, Steady State Economy, The Daly News /by Brian Czech

by Brian Czech

Here’s a day to remember: May 6, 2016. That’s the day when, late in the afternoon, the Legislature of the State of Vermont passed H.C.R. 412, “House Concurrent Resolution Honoring the Center for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy for Its Important Work.” In a nation where acts of steady statesmanship – political support for a steady state economy – have only just begun, the Vermont Legislature has offered a perfect and prescient precedent.

Setting Things Straight for the Steady State

October 8, 2015/4 Comments/in Brian Czech, Economic Growth, Steady State Economy, The Daly News /by Brian Czech

by Brian Czech

Extremely dangerous political rhetoric has proliferated over the past several decades, seducing the masses onto a path that leads to the destruction of nature and civilization. This rhetoric is centered on the claim that “there is no conflict between growing the economy and protecting the environment!” Politicians are all about economic growth but, at the same time, none of them want to be seen as willful destroyers of the environment.

First Cut: No Five-Kid Presidents

August 12, 2015/5 Comments/in Brian Czech, Population, The Daly News /by Brian Czech

by Brian Czech

(With apologies to the Octomom, who didn’t ask for this kind of attention.)

Mention the Octomom, and the first thing that comes to mind is that ridiculous fecundity. If she tried running for President, she’d never make it to the first debate, because everyone would take the 14-kid factoid (yes, she had 6 before the 8) to indicate some type of extremist propensity. More astute analysts would also point out that,

Five Myths About Economic Growth

July 22, 2015/16 Comments/in Brian Czech, Consumption, Economic Growth, The Daly News /by Brian Czech

by Brian Czech

Myth #1. It’s economic.

To be economic, something has to be worth more than it costs. Economic activity, per se, is more beneficial than detrimental. Technically speaking, “marginal utility is greater than marginal disutility.”

If you liked a rug, but liked your grandkids more, it wouldn’t be smart to grab the rug out from under them. That’s basic microeconomics. Yet if we look around and reflect a bit,

Preempting a Misleading Argument: Why Environmental Problems Will Stop Tracking with GDP

May 13, 2015/1 Comment/in Brian Czech, Consumption, Economic Growth, Environment, Population, Steady State Economy, The Daly News /by Brian Czech

Brian explains how GDP growth will eventually stop tracking with environmental damage–but the reasons may not be what you’d expect!

Who Moved Obama’s Win-Win Cheese?

February 4, 2015/10 Comments/in Brian Czech, Economic Growth, Economic Policy, Environment, Steady State Economy, The Daly News /by Brian Czech

by Brian Czech

Whether or not you like President Obama or his policy preferences, you have to acknowledge his consistency. Even those with “zero regard” for the president confess, “At least Obama is consistent.”

But not consistently. There is one issue, at least, on which he hasn’t held still, moving in and out like an octopus in a sunken ship. That issue is the relationship between economic growth and environmental protection.