Prosperity without Growth

Tim Jackson is Professor of Sustainable Development at the University of Surrey, UK, and Director of the Centre for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity (CUSP). For seven years he was Economics Commissioner on the UK Sustainable Development Commission, where his work culminated in the first edition of this book. He was awarded the Hillary Laureate for exceptional international leadership in 2016. In addition to his scientific work, Tim is a prize-winning dramatist with numerous radio writing credits for the BBC.

• Foreword to the first edition Prologue to the second edition1 The Limits to Growth 2 Prosperity Lost 3 Redefining Prosperity 4 The Dilemma of Growth 5 The Myth of Decoupling 6 The ‘Iron Cage’ of Consumerism 7 Flourishing – Within Limits 8 Foundations for the Economy of Tomorrow 9 Towards a ‘Post-growth’ Macroeconomics 10 The Progressive State11 A Lasting Prosperity

‘It is hard to improve a classic, but Jackson has done it… a clearly written yet scholarly union of moral vision with solid economics.’ — Herman Daly, University of Maryland, USA‘I remember exactly where I was when I first read Prosperity Without Growth. It cut through the intellectual clamour with clarity, courage — and hope.’ — Naomi Klein, Author of This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate‘An excellent critical review of mainstream academic thoughts on poverty in the contemporary global system; a convincing illustration of the shortcomings of these thoughts on the case of Canada’ — Samir Amin, Professor of Political Economy, Director of Third World Forum and Chair of World Forum For Alternatives, Egypt‘With much of the world in turmoil, calling for higher economic growth is every politician’s comfort blanket of choice. But Tim Jackson compellingly urges those politicians to give up their comfort blanket, to re-think our continuing dependence on economic growth, and to start preparing – urgently – for a world where such growth is no longer viable as its environmental cost massively exceeds its benefits. Prosperity Without Growth remains the single most important book addressing this most critical of contemporary challenges.’ — Jonathon Porritt, Founder Director of Forum for the Future, UK. ‘Tim Jackson's Prosperity without Growth systematises and renders tangible an essential project few believed to be practical: recovering the dream of shared prosperity and human development through decoupling it from the bandwagon of growth. Essential reading for those refusing to succumb to a dystopic future.’ — Yanis Varoufakis, DiEM25 co-founder and Professor of Economics, University of Athens, Greece. ‘Tim Jackson has brought his ground-breaking book bang up to date and substantially deepened its arguments. This extensively revised edition sets out more clearly than ever the dimensions of a new and different economics – working for people, planet and prosperity. There isn’t a better exposition out there of why and how we need to move beyond growth.’ — Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton, Pavilion and a member of the Green Party, UK. 'One of the most important essays of our generation: both visionary and realistic, rooted in careful research and setting out difficult but achievable goals, it gives what we so badly need - an alternative to passivity, short-term selfishness and cynicism.' — Dr Rowan Williams, The Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge University and was the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury, UK. ‘This challenge to the prevailing growth-based economic paradigm confronts an inescapable dilemma: how to reconcile "our aspirations for the good life with the limitations and constraints of a finite planet." Its thoughtful and penetrating critique is enriched by an outline of credible programs to achieve this end. A very valuable contribution to urgent concerns that cannot be ignored.’ — Noam Chomsky, Institute Professor & Professor of Linguistics, MIT, USA. ‘Tim Jackson spearheads the obvious truth that GDP growth is not necessary in order to achieve higher well-being in the rich world. Government intervention can produce the desired result, namely full employment, less inequity and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.’ — Jorgen Randers, author of "2052 – A Global Forecast for the Next Forty Years"(2012) and co-author of "One Percent is Enough. Managing economic growth to reduce unemployment, inequity and greenhouse gas emissions." (2016)"Tim Jackson’s revised second edition of his Prosperity without Growth continues to provide a stimulating and accessible account of the issues facing the planet, an assessment of how we’re dealing with the problems, and the kinds of solutions that are necessary for us to be able to continue to live and thrive here." --Jonathan Warner, Quest University, Canada