I would rather criticise the fallacy that economic growth is unsustainable.
The invention of new materials and techniques allows us to continue to grow
our economies without endangering our environment. It is the short-termism
of the profit motive (or inadequate regulation) that leads to environmental
damage, not growth itself.
Chris.
On Fri, 18 Oct 2002 20:38:57 +0100 Ray Thomas <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Well said:
>
> > economists would be
> > better concentrating on the fallacy of unlimited economic growth,
> > underpinning our entire social, economic and political
> > system, rather than
> > developing ever better models to predict economic behaviour.
>
> But why blame just the economists for this? Don't we all uncritically
> accept economic statistics as indicators of economic growth?
>
> Such statistics guide governments, because they are the basis of govenmental
> revenue, as well
> as capitalism that is equally dependent on growth.
>
> Ray Thomas, Social Sciences, Open University
> Tel: 01908 679081 Fax 01908 550401
> Email: [log in to unmask]
> 35 Passmore, Milton Keynes MK6 3DY
Dr Chris Holden
Lecturer in Social Policy
Department of Health and Social Care
Brunel university
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