Economics for a Safe Operating Space: A Green-Growth-Degrowth Model

Thomas Gries and Wim Naudé

No 18110, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: We present a model of economic growth that bridges Green Growth and Degrowth perspectives. The model demonstrates that a minimum physical per capita consumption level can be maintained without recourse to tech-optimism, and moreover with degrowth in material resource throughput - respecting planetary boundaries. We critically discuss the assumptions necessary for this result, explore relaxing these, and illustrate that eventually a full transition to renewable energy and materials will be needed to sustain consumption levels in a post-growth economy. We identify areas for future growth modelling, emphasising that these require genuine interdisciplinary cooperation.

Keywords: post-growth; degrowth; economic growth; green growth; sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O44 Q32 Q55 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025-09
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-env, nep-hme and nep-pke
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