Overview
- 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
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Table of contents (8 chapters)
Keywords
- degrowth
- Welfare States
- Climate change
- steady state economy
- secular stagnation
- postgrowth
- the growth paradigm
- sustainable welfare
- ecological economics
- social practice theory
- measures of wellbeing
- eco-social policies
- welfare economics
- environmental policy
- planetary boundaries
- Limits to growth
- subjective and objective wellbeing
- human needs
- adaptive preferences
- loss aversion
About this book
Reviews
“Post-growth and Well-being is a timely and systematic account of the post-growth literature. The book methodically highlights important social science theories and approaches towards a sustainable economy and the implications for both environmental and human well-being. … Overall the authors present complicated and, arguably, potentially disempowering ideas to the reader in a clear and concise manner … .” (Rachel Manning, Environmental Values, Vol. 27 (06), December, 2018)
“This concise and comprehensible book provides a very gratifying and manageable reading experience. The structure of the book is coherent with short chapters each beginning with an abstract and ending with an informative conclusion. … highly recommended reading for all interested in the future of welfare systems and the sustainability of income protection.” (Tuuli Hirvilammi, Basic Income Studies, July, 2018)
“Postgrowth and Wellbeing should serve as a reference work for scholars, students and activists engaged in supporting societal transitions towards post-growth societies. Büch and Koch … stress that, unless the socioeconomic, technological and political articulations framing unsustainable practices are addressed simultaneously, basic needs for health and autonomy may suffer.” (Monica Guillen-Royo, Ecological Economics, Vol. 146, April, 2018)
“Like it or not, growth may be coming to an end. How to sustain welfare without growth is a core question for our times. This book presents the boldest attempt to think what viable welfare systems could look like in global steady state.” (Giorgos Kallis, Research Professor at the Autonomous University of Barcelona)
“At a time when leading economists are horrified by the specter of secular stagnation affecting advanced capitalist economies, theorists of “postgrowth” a
nd a global “steady state economy” embrace the idea that its arrival might even enhance human wellbeing and need satisfaction. But who knows what kind of views our future selves, even our descendents, may form about the requisites of wellbeing and the good life? Are we trapped in the social practices of mindless consumerism/productivism and GDP fetishism or ready to consider the worth of an economy that minimizes ecologically harmful levels of resource extraction and waste production? Büchs and Koch provide a concise, systematic and crystal clear account of what social sciences (including psychology and philosophy) have to offer on these questions – a critical account that is clinically clean of jargon and alarmist gesturing.” (Claus Offe, Professor Emeritus of Political Sociology at the Hertie School of Governance)“Endless economic growth will destroy the planet but a post-growth economy threatens security and wellbeing. Büchs and Koch provide an honest and concise
account of the dilemma and a guide to some ways forward.” (Ian Gough, Emeritus Professor of Social Policy at the University of Bath, Visiting Professor at the London School of Economics)“Concise and well-written, this book offers an historical and comparative perspective on the changing relationship between wellbeing, economic growth, and ecological perspectives as they intersect with the welfare state. Scholars, university students, and activists interested in the relationship between capitalism, environmental policy, and the welfare state should read this book.” (Daniel Béland, Canada Research Chair in Public Policy and Professor at the Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy)
Authors and Affiliations
About the authors
Max Koch is Professor in Social Policy at Lund University, Sweden.
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: Postgrowth and Wellbeing
Book Subtitle: Challenges to Sustainable Welfare
Authors: Milena Büchs, Max Koch
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59903-8
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan Cham
eBook Packages: Social Sciences, Social Sciences (R0)
Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2017
Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-319-59902-1Published: 01 August 2017
Softcover ISBN: 978-3-319-86730-4Published: 04 August 2018
eBook ISBN: 978-3-319-59903-8Published: 20 July 2017
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XV, 144
Number of Illustrations: 8 b/w illustrations
Topics: Social Policy, Social Structure, Social Inequality, Organizational Studies, Economic Sociology, Environmental Sociology, International Political Economy, Economic Growth