Why degrowth should be disentangled from the wellbeing economy

Hubert Buch-Hansen

Ecological Economics, 2025, vol. 230, issue C

Abstract: In recent times, degrowth has in various ways been linked to the notion of a wellbeing economy. The extent to which the two are compatible has however not been subject to much discussion. The present contribution contrasts the wellbeing economy and degrowth, finding that they differ markedly in their stances on economic growth, capitalism and the political. As regards economic growth and capitalism, the wellbeing economy discourse is characterised by deep ambivalence in that its proponents hold conflicting views or abstain from taking a clear position. Against this background, I make a case for disentangling degrowth from the wellbeing economy, to avoid severe confusion as to what degrowth stands for.

Keywords: Wellbeing economy; Degrowth; Economic growth; Capitalism; Post-politics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:230:y:2025:i:c:s0921800925000151

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2025.108532

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