E-Book Overview
Is more economic growth the solution? Will it deliver prosperity and well-being for a global population projected to reach nine billion? In this explosive book, Tim Jackson � a top sustainability adviser to the UK government � makes a compelling case against continued economic growth in developed nations. No one denies that development is essential for poorer nations. But in the advanced economies there is mounting evidence that ever-increasing consumption adds little to human happiness and may even impede it. More urgently, it is now clear that the ecosystems that sustain our economies are collapsing under the impacts of rising consumption. Unless we can radically lower the environmental impact of economic activity � and there is no evidence to suggest that we can � we will have to devise a path to prosperity that does not rely on continued growth. Economic heresy? Or an opportunity to improve the sources of well-being, creativity and lasting prosperity that lie outside the realm of the market? Tim Jackson provides a credible vision of how human society can flourish � within the ecological limits of a finite planet. Fulfilling this vision is simply the most urgent task of our times. This book is a substantially revised and updated version of Jackson's controversial study for the Sustainable Development Commission, an advisory body to the UK Government. The study rapidly became the most downloaded report in the Commission's nine year history when it was launched earlier this year.
E-Book Content
Prosperity Without Growth — Tim Jackson 210x146mm trim format — Jacketed hardback — Spine width: 24.6mm ISBN 978-1-84407-894-3 The debate has started. Read Prosperity without Growth and join the most important conversation of our times. Tim Jackson is Economics Commissioner on the Sustainable Development Commission, the UK governments’ independent adviser on sustainable development. Tim is also Professor of Sustainable Development at the University of Surrey and Director of the ESRC Research Group on Lifestyles, Values and Environment (RESOLVE). In addition to his scientific work, Tim is an award-winning dramatist with numerous BBC radio writing credits to his name. ‘Prosperity without Growth’s hugely encouraging and thrilling theme is that humanity can prosper without growth. In fact there is no other way left to us.’ Robert Goodland, winner of IUCN Coolidge Medal of Honor 2008 ‘Jackson goes after the complacency and dishonesty at the heart of contemporary politics, and provides a brilliant and compelling account of the crucial importance of the growth debate.’ Jonathon Porritt, CBE ‘Jackson’s book simply resets the agenda for Western society.’ Bernie Bulkin, former Chief Scientist of BP ‘In the teeth of the economic crisis, Jackson has written the most important book that could possibly be written now.’ James Gustave Speth, Yale University ‘This might well become as important for sustainable development as the Brundtland Report.’ Paul-Marie Boulanger, Institut pour un Développement Durable ‘The best account of the financial crisis and the state of society I have read in a long time… The beauty is that the change that is needed will make us happier.’ Clare Short, MP ‘A must-read… Bold, original and comprehensive.’ Anthony Giddens, LSE www.earthscan.co.uk Earthscan strives to minimize its impact on the environment www.earthscan.co.uk Photograph ©PIER/Stone/Getty Images TIM JACKSON ‘Jackson’s cutting edge research has already begun to redefine the debate about how to achieve a future of human ‘Lucid, persuasive, and blessedly and planetary well-being.’ readable… Don’t miss it!’ Juliet Schor, Boston College Dianne Dumanoski, author and journalist PROSPERITY WITHOUT GROWTH Is it time to re-think economic growt