Postgrowth and Wellbeing

This book presents a detailed and critical discussion about how human wellbeing can be maintained and improved in a postgrowth era. It highlights the close links between economic growth, market capitalism, and the welfare state demonstrating that, in many ways, wellbeing outcomes currently depend on the growth paradigm. Here the authors argue that notions of basic human needs deserve greater emphasis in debates on postgrowth because they are more compatible with limits to growth. Drawing on theories of social practices, the book explores structural barriers to transitions to a postgrowth society, and ends with suggestions for policies and institutions that could support wellbeing in the context of postgrowth. This thought-provoking work makes a valuable contribution to debates surrounding climate change, sustainability, welfare states and inequality and will appeal to students and scholars of social policy, sociology, political science, economics, political ecology and humangeography.

Carves a new path in the debate on how to ensure a sustainable and more equal existence for future generations Offers a detailed, sociological approach to the question of how post-growth societies will function Provides important insights for policy-makers and social movements Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Autorentext
Milena Büchs is Associate Professor in Sustainability, Economics and Low Carbon Transitions, University of Leeds, UK.

Max Koch is Professor in Social Policy at Lund University, Sweden.

Inhalt
Chapter 1: Introduction.- Chapter 2: Capitalist development and the growth paradigm.- Chapter 3 Growth and the welfare state as we know it.- Chapter 4 Critiques of growth.- Chapter 5 Postgrowth and human wellbeing.- Chapter 6: The generation of human wellbeing social practices theory.- Chapter 7: Welfare in a global steady-state economy.- Chapter 8: Conclusions.