These are the CASSE blog articles on the steady state economy.
It’s nearly impossible to take a snapshot of a so-called typical family, but in a steady state economy, the important things are emphasized in each household. Healthy lifestyles and relationships take center stage. With the work week shortened to something like 30 hours per week, family members can spend more quality time with one another and explore personal development, such as picking up a musical instrument,
In a steady state economy, population remains relatively stable, as births + immigrants = deaths + emigrants. Overcrowding, congestion, and frenzied competition are diminished. A stable and sustainable level of population helps ensure that each person can obtain sufficient resources. Steady state economies include non-coercive policies that tend to stabilize population, such as empowerment of women and provision of equitable access to educational opportunities. The idea is to stabilize population at a size that gives citizens the best odds to lead long,
In a steady state economy, people consume enough to meet their needs and lead meaningful, joyful lives without undermining the life-support systems of the planet. They choose to consume energy and materials responsibly, conserving, economizing, and recycling where appropriate. Conspicuous consumption becomes a thing of the past. Citizens (yes citizens, not consumers) recognize the culture of materialism as a bankrupt ideology and a poor path to happiness.
The evidence is all around us — the global human economy has grown too large. Continued economic growth (especially in high-consuming nations) is at best irresponsible, and at worst risks ecological collapse and resource deprivation for future generations. The logical way forward for nations of the world is to take a different path to achieve sustainable, healthy, and equitable lifestyles for citizens. The alternative to continued economic growth is a non-growing or steady state economy.
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The mission of CASSE is to advance the steady state economy, with stabilized population and consumption, as a policy goal with widespread public support. We pursue this mission by:
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