These are the CASSE blog articles on the steady state economy.
Become a member of CASSE, one of the leanest organizations in the nonprofit world. Our staff is comprised almost entirely of distinguished volunteers. Our few paid staff are “walking the talk” with light ecological footprints and modest salaries, happy to work for CASSE due to the refreshing sense of purpose. As a member, you won’t get any colorful journals or tote bags, but you can join in that sense of purpose.
Politicians need to hear from us. They need to understand that the tired strategy of growing the economy isn’t going to solve our problems. Their repeated calls for economic growth are largely due to a lack of understanding about the downsides of economic growth and a lack of awareness about the alternative—a dynamic, healthy steady state economy. Please consider contacting your politicians, from city hall to the statehouse to the national legislature,
Many professors of economics overlook the ecological consequences of the theories and policies they teach. The trans-disciplinary field of ecological economics is gaining a foothold in universities, but mainstream, neoclassical economists control the vast majority of classrooms. We encourage you to ask economists lots of questions — the point is to start discussions that will expose assumption-based doctrine and replace it with science-based facts.
The questions below provide a solid “starter” list.
How is infinite economic growth possible on a finite planet?
Writing a letter to the editor is a tried and true method for informing fellow citizens. Following are real letters submitted to nationally prominent newspapers on subjects related to the steady state economy. Some have been published, but remain useful as templates. One may expect a publication rate of 10 to 30% with letters such as these (tip: USA Today is one of the easier national newspapers to get a letter published in).
Use our Tell-a-Friend tool to send a short email to family, friends and colleagues who might be interested in supporting the transition to a steady state economy.
Following is a small sampling of esteemed scientists, economists and other thinkers who have signed the CASSE position on economic growth. More notable signatories are listed here.
Abhijit Banerjee, Ford Foundation International Professor of Economics at MIT; 2019 Nobel laureate (with Esther Duflo and Michael Kremer); past president of the Bureau for the Research in the Economic Analysis of Development; co-author, Good Economics for Hard Times.
Maude Barlow, Chairperson of the Council of Canadians;
The CASSE position sets the record straight on the fundamental conflict between GDP growth and environmental protection. Climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution are just three powerful examples. And what happens to jobs when the planet can’t support the bloated economy? What happens to national security and international stability?
The CASSE position calls for the sustainable solution – a steady state economy with stabilized population and consumption – beginning in the wealthiest nations and spreading via “steady statesmanship.”
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