Short answer
Design for sufficiency and well-being, not just for growth and consumption.
- Field
- Sustainability
- Source
- St Andrews Research Repository (St Andrews Research Repository) (2009)
- Method
- Literature Review and Theoretical Analysis
- Evidence
- Strong effect
The pursuit of continuous economic growth, as currently defined, often leads to unsustainable resource depletion and environmental degradation. This sustainability research insight is drawn from a 2009 study published in St Andrews Research Repository (St Andrews Research Repository). Using Literature review and theoretical analysis, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Design for sufficiency and well-being, not just for growth and consumption.
Economic models prioritizing growth may inherently conflict with long-term sustainability goals.
The pursuit of continuous economic growth, as currently defined, often leads to unsustainable resource depletion and environmental degradation.
St Andrews Research Repository (St Andrews Research Repository) · 2009
Key Findings
- 01The current economic model is predicated on perpetual growth, which is ecologically impossible.
- 02Decoupling economic growth from resource use is proving insufficient to achieve sustainability.
- 03A transition to a 'steady-state' or 'degrowth' economy may be necessary for long-term prosperity and ecological balance.
Application
Design takeaway
Design for sufficiency and well-being, not just for growth and consumption.
How to apply
When designing products or systems, consider how they contribute to overall societal well-being and ecological health, rather than solely focusing on market share or production volume.
Project actions
- 01Consider the long-term environmental impact of your design choices.
- 02Explore business models that don't rely on selling more and more products.
Method & Evidence
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Provides a strong theoretical foundation for questioning growth-centric economic models.
- +Synthesizes a wide range of academic disciplines to support its arguments.
Limitations
It can be difficult to quantify 'well-being' and to measure the success of a non-growth economy in practical terms.
Reliability & validity
The reliability and validity of this theoretical work rest on the robustness of the cited literature and the logical coherence of its arguments. As a synthesis of existing research, it is subject to the limitations of its source material.
Think critically
How can design actively contribute to a 'degrowth' or 'steady-state' economy, and what are the primary obstacles designers face in pursuing such a paradigm?
Design Principles
"Design for a steady-state economy where human well-being is prioritized within ecological limits."
This research challenges conventional economic paradigms that link prosperity solely to growth. Designers and engineers must consider alternative metrics for success that decouple economic activity from environmental impact.
What This Means for Your Design
Always growing the economy isn't good for the planet, and we need to find ways to be happy and healthy without using up all our resources.
How to use in your project
- 1.Reference this work when discussing the broader context of sustainability and the limitations of conventional economic growth models in your design project's justification or evaluation.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
The pursuit of continuous economic growth, as highlighted by Jackson (2009), presents a fundamental challenge to achieving long-term sustainability. This research suggests that conventional design and production strategies focused on increasing throughput may be inherently at odds with ecological limits, necessitating a re-evaluation of design goals towards sufficiency and well-being within a steady-state economic framework.
Source
St Andrews Research Repository (St Andrews Research Repository)
Prosperity without growth? : the transition to a sustainable economy
journal · 2009
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about economic models prioritizing growth may inherently conflict with long-term sustainability goals?
- Design for sufficiency and well-being, not just for growth and consumption. Evidence: St Andrews Research Repository (St Andrews Research Repository) (2009).
- Why does "Economic models prioritizing growth may inherently conflict with long-term sustainability goals." matter for design?
- This research challenges conventional economic paradigms that link prosperity solely to growth. Designers and engineers must consider alternative metrics for success that decouple economic activity from environmental impact.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Design for sufficiency and well-being, not just for growth and consumption.
- What were the main findings?
- The current economic model is predicated on perpetual growth, which is ecologically impossible.. Decoupling economic growth from resource use is proving insufficient to achieve sustainability.. A transition to a 'steady-state' or 'degrowth' economy may be necessary for long-term prosperity and ecological balance.
- What research method was used?
- Literature Review and Theoretical Analysis.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2009 journal from St Andrews Research Repository (St Andrews Research Repository).
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing products or systems, consider how they contribute to overall societal well-being and ecological health, rather than solely focusing on market share or production volume.
- What are the limitations?
- The report is theoretical and does not provide a detailed roadmap for implementation, nor does it fully address the socio-political challenges of transitioning away from a growth-dependent economy.