The text discusses the concept of “décroissance” or degrowth, which is a reduction in production and consumption to alleviate the ecological footprint, planned democratically with a focus on social justice and well-being. The economist Timothée Parrique presents this concept in a conference and a book, highlighting the impossibility of green growth and the false promises of economic growth. He is invited to give a course on the foundations of degrowth to students at HEC Paris, despite the irony of discussing this topic in an elite economic school. The idea of degrowth originated in the 1970s and gained traction through intellectuals like Serge Latouche and Paul Ariès. The text also mentions a report on the limits to growth, which highlighted the exponential growth of production and population exceeding planetary boundaries.
| Signal | Change | 10y horizon | Driving force |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emergence of the concept of degrowth | Shift from economic growth to sustainable practices | Widespread adoption of degrowth principles and practices | Concerns about ecological footprint and social justice |