Money and Investments Archives – Center for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy

No Place for Science, With Trump’s Mad Growth Obsession

July 9, 2026/9 Comments/in Autocracy, Climate Change, Corruption, Democracy, Economic Growth, Governance, Kirsten Stade, Money and Investments, Politics, Steady State Herald /by Alix Underwood

by Kirsten Stade

Among his many gifts to big business, President Trump has made it his mission to squash science wherever he can.

This is hardly surprising, as scientific realities often interfere with business bottom lines. For corporate interests and allies like those who populate the Trump Administration, climate change and biodiversity collapse are best denied. Along with other manifestations of the conflict between economic growth and environmental protection, their messengers are best silenced.

Growth Mania and the AI Extinction Threat

July 2, 2026/9 Comments/in Corporate Reform, Dave Rollo, Economic Growth, Governance, Jobs and Employment, Money and Investments, Steady State Herald, Technology /by Alix Underwood

by Dave Rollo

Expansion of the human footprint over the past century has been, by all measures, explosive. Humans are the undisputed masters of Planet Earth, shaping it to our needs and desires. One result of our “success” is the pushing of many species to the margins. The vast majority of mammalian and avian biomass now consists of our food animals, our pets, and ourselves.

We’ve dominated the planet largely because of our intelligence.

Special Report: Introducing the Sustainable Monetary Policy Act

June 11, 2026/3 Comments/in Banking, Brian Czech, Economic Growth, GDP, Governance, Inflation, Jobs and Employment, Limits to Growth, Monetary Policy, Money and Investments, Steady State Economy, Steady State Economy Act, Steady State Herald /by Alix Underwood

by Brian Czech

The Federal Reserve System has more influence over the rate of economic growth—certainly nationally and arguably globally—than any other institution. When it sets the federal funds rate, the Fed affects the decisions of producers and consumers far and wide. When it lowers the rate, producers borrow more, from Midwest farmers to Silicon Valley techs. Likewise, consumers borrow more for everything from cars and houses to laptops and smartphones.

The Data Center Showdown in Lackawanna County

May 28, 2026/4 Comments/in Dave Rollo, Energy, Governance, Jobs and Employment, KEEP Our Counties Great, Money and Investments, Politics, Pollution, Steady State Herald, Technology, Water /by Alix Underwood

by Dave Rollo

As the artificial intelligence (AI) boom explodes with a race for ever more powerful models, so does the need for its infrastructure. This takes the form of huge, windowless buildings housing thousands of data servers. Projects may involve numerous buildings—sometimes a dozen or more—with added infrastructure such as hundreds of backup generators. These amalgamations are termed data centers or, in some cases as an indication of their enormity,

Why Is Simple Living So Complicated?

January 8, 2026/11 Comments/in Consumption, Corporate Reform, Economic Policy, Governance, Inflation, Jobs and Employment, Money and Investments, Steady State Economy, Steady State Herald, Wellbeing /by Alix Underwood

by Keith Akers

In industrially advanced countries, we have massively overshot the limits to economic growth. Climate change, peak oil, soil erosion, mass extinctions, and groundwater depletion are already biting into our well-being. Economic and social collapse seems to be the default.

We need “simple living”—the voluntary reduction of consumption—but on a massive scale. We need other things too, like social justice and cultural changes. But let’s focus on the economic logistics of simple living.

Investors Profit from the Affordable Housing Crisis

December 31, 2025/7 Comments/in Corporate Reform, Corruption, Economic Policy, Governance, Inequality, Money and Investments, Steady State Herald, Wealth, Wellbeing /by Alix Underwood

by Amelia Jaycen

Today, we see endless suburban sprawl and no shortage of stories about the U.S. affordable-housing crisis. So, why aren’t there enough homes yet?

The story is one of “artificial scarcity,” in which there are plenty of means to close the affordable-housing gap, but scarcity is created by investment companies buying up homes. Investors own 20 percent of single-family homes in the United States. Loopholes in the U.S.

Labour’s Military Spending Undermines Climate Goals

December 4, 2025/6 Comments/in Climate Change, Corruption, Economic Growth, Economic Policy, Governance, Materials use, Money and Investments, Peace, Politics, Pollution, Steady State Herald /by Alix Underwood

by Darryl Rigby

As Edwin Starr once sang: “War, what is it good for?” If we’re to believe the United Kingdom’s Labour Party government, it’s good for boosting GDP and protecting your population from the existential threat of Russia.

But one thing increased militarisation most certainly isn’t good for is the environment. Prime Minister Keir Starmer recently announced his plan to steadily increase the defence budget over the next decade.

No Steady State Economy with Global South in Debt Crisis

July 3, 2025/4 Comments/in Alix Underwood, Corruption, Economic Growth, Economic Policy, Governance, Inequality, Money and Investments, Politics, Poverty, Steady State Herald /by Alix Underwood

by Alix Underwood

This week marks the fourth annual International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4). Leaders of governments, international organizations, and financial institutions meet in Seville, Spain, to “reform financing at all levels.” Global South countries and advocacy groups from across the world hoped this would be the moment for a UN Framework Convention on Sovereign Debt.

According to Didier Jacobs, Oxfam International’s Debt Relief Advocacy Lead,

In the Poconos, They’re Keeping Carbon County Great

June 19, 2025/2 Comments/in Conservation, Dave Rollo, Economic Policy, Environment, Governance, KEEP Our Counties Great, Money and Investments, Politics, Steady State Economy, Steady State Herald /by Alix Underwood

By Dave Rollo

In Carbon County, Pennsylvania, the conservation ethic runs deep. It manifests in the county’s comprehensive plan, its “return on environment” analysis, and most recently, a fund to preserve open space, which voters overwhelmingly supported.

Carbon County derives its name from the abundant deposits of anthracite—the highest quality coal—that were once mined there. The county is located in the southern Pocono Mountains,

Hacking the Business Growth Imperative

April 25, 2025/4 Comments/in Corporate Reform, Corruption, Economic Growth, Economic Policy, Governance, Money and Investments, Postgrowth, Steady State Economy, Steady State Herald, Sustainability /by Alix Underwood

by Kali Young

“Despite its immensity, the Earth’s resources are not infinite, and it’s clear we’ve exceeded its limits. But it’s also resilient. We can save our planet if we commit to it.” – Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia

In 2022, Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard took a bold step to make the Earth, in essence, the company’s only shareholder. Chouinard explained that he doesn’t respect the stock market and believes that companies become irresponsible after going public.