Economic growth dependencies and imperatives: A review of key theories and their conflicts

Lorenz Keyßer, Julia Steinberger and Matthias Schmelzer

Ecological Economics, 2025, vol. 238, issue C

Abstract: Despite evidence indicating that sustainability cannot be achieved without overcoming the economic growth paradigm, current societies continue to pursue destructive growth pathways. Theories on economic growth dependencies and imperatives (GDI) provide explanations for this behaviour by describing mechanisms that cause negative consequences for agents under conditions of zero economic growth. However, conflicting theories exist, impeding concerted efforts to make societal wellbeing independent from economic growth. To address this challenge, we provide a systematic review of 248 publications covering key theories of GDI. The review identifies 112 mechanisms, sorted into 21 clusters and six themes. We provide synthetic conceptual accounts of the diverse dimensions of GDI for each mechanism, such as how harm occurs without growth. We find that GDI mechanisms are more numerous and heterogeneous than previously thought. The analysis of conflicts between the theories shows that disagreements emerge from contradictory perceptions of the neutrality of fundamental social structures. These structures include the monetary economy, market competition, private property and the state. Furthermore, conflicts centre the specific roles of ideology, knowledge and culture. The findings of this comprehensive review highlight the importance of further theoretical and empirical research that deepens our understanding of GDI.

Keywords: Growth imperative; Growth dependency; Degrowth; Post-growth; Growth independence; Literature review (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:238:y:2025:i:c:s0921800925002289

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2025.108745

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