It examines three closely related propositions in defense of economic growth. The first is that the opulence - though not synonymous with prosperity - is a necessary condition to flourish. The second is that economic growth is correlated with certain basic rights - health and education, perhaps - that are essential to prosperity. The third is that growth is functional to maintain economic and social stability. Prosperity is not synonymous with material wealth. And the requirements for prosperity go well beyond the material sustenance. Prosperity has more to do with our ability to flourish: physically, psychologically and socially. Beyond mere survival, prosperity depends crucially on our ability to participate meaningfully in life in society. …show more content…
Despite a growing desire for change, it's almost impossible that people just choose sustainable lifestyles, as much as they like. Even highly motivated individuals experience conflict when they try to escape consumerism. And the chances of extending this approach to society are negligible without changes in the social structure. Two specific components of change have been identified. The first is the need to fix the economy: to develop a new macroeconomics literate (Chapter 8). This new economic framework will need to put economic activity in ecological limits. You need to reduce economic dependence on the relentless growth and find a different mechanism to achieve the fundamental stability. The second component of the change is to alter the social logic of consumerism (Chapter 9). This change has to happen through the provision of real and credible alternative with which people can flourish. And these alternatives should go beyond become more sustainable basic provisioning systems (food, housing and transportation, for example). They should also provide training for people to participate fully in the life of society without resources to the accumulation unsustainable materials or unproductive competition for