ABSTRACT
This chapter summarises the conditions for sustainable economies without growth. It argues that the a-growth position – introducing strict environmental regulation and being agnostic to whether the economy still grows under such conditions – does not suffice. The reason is that crucial systems are dependent on economic growth and would collapse in an economy without growth – which, in turn, is likely to prevent implementing strict environmental regulation. The central conditions for sustainable economies without growth are derived by use of neoclassical, Marxian, and Keynesian economics. They entail (1) a redirection of technological change due to changes in input prices and/or reductions in average working hours, (2) the introduction of diseconomies of scale and collectively owned firms, and (3) constant aggregate demand, including private consumption and government spending. Such conditions would lead to an economy with zero growth, decreasing environmental throughput, and zero net investments.
