Defining growth dependence
Many socio-economic systems require positive economic growth rates to function properly. These growth dependencies pose serious challenges given uncertainty about future growth rates and the role of economic growth as a driver of environmental crises. Thus, identifying and transforming socio-economi...
| Autores: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2026 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona |
| Repositorio: | Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB |
| Idioma: | inglés |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:dnet:uabarcelona_::24fb2bc9fda0dbda6735bb507f906d88 |
| Acceso en línea: | https://ddd.uab.cat/record/327029 https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.1007/s11625-026-01808-w |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Degrowth Green growth Growth dependence Growth imperative Growth independence Post-growth |
| Sumario: | Many socio-economic systems require positive economic growth rates to function properly. These growth dependencies pose serious challenges given uncertainty about future growth rates and the role of economic growth as a driver of environmental crises. Thus, identifying and transforming socio-economic systems that currently rely on growth for their adequate functioning is a crucial step towards effective sustainability transformations. To facilitate conceptual clarity, we propose a general definition and framework for operationalizing the concept of "growth dependence" through four elements: (1) the system under investigation, (2) the unit of growth measurement, (3) the meaning of "growth", and (4) the functions or properties of the system relevant for human well-being. We illustrate the impact of varieties in definitions on assessment outcomes by applying the framework to areas widely seen as growth-dependent: labor markets, social insurance and public finance. Our framework helps researchers to develop a more coherent understanding of growth dependence, a prerequisite for assessing policy options towards growth independence. |
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