De-growth: A misunderstanding turns into a political agenda

Since the beginning of the 19th century, global economic growth has lifted a large and growing part of humankind out of poverty. This success story of market-coordinated economies has led to a sizeable increase of income and life expectancy, coupled with a shortening of working hours and various other intangible positive spill-over effects. The negative ecological, including climate-related consequences of this historically unique economic upswing, have spawned an academic as well as socio-political movement that gathers under the keywords "de-growth", "zero growth" or "post-growth economics".

Christian Helmenstein, Chief Economist of the Federation of Austrian Industries, comments on this in his article:

Christian Helmenstein, Chief Economist of the Federation of Austrian Industries

"Growth is not a goal in itself, but growth is an indicator of creative freedom."