The Politics of Growth

Growth does have the advantage from a politician's point of view of taking some of the edge of the demands for redistribution or reconfiguration of society. But there is very little evidence that decoupling growth from increased carbon emissions actually works. It's easy for opponents of this kind of agenda to describe it as austerity for masses who are deprived of material comforts. We have to say, look, you are yourself caught up in thinking that the consumerist culture is something inscribed naturally in some way.