Zero Growth Economy Conference

A Zero Growth Economy? What would it mean for us all? 

Some environmentalists have called for the establishment of a zero-growth economy as the only possible route to real sustainability. Some economists have pointed out that eras of high government spending on environmental projects have coincided exclusively with times of high economic growth and a financial “feel-good” mood.

We are now on the verge of a world-wide recession, with banks and businesses failing and governments casting around in vain for a solution. Whatever the outcome, we will all still be feeling the ripples, if not the tidal waves, by the autumn.

The conference examined the implications of a zero growth economy on both the environment and on people, and considered the right relationships between protecting the environment and alleviating poverty.

Speakers were:-

• Miriam Kennet - Green Economics Institute
• Richard Douthwaite - economist and author of “the Growth Illusion”
• Duncan Green - head of reseach, Oxfam
• Alastair McIntosh - social activist and author of “Soil and Soul” and “Hell and High Water”

The one-day conference was chaired by Jocelyn Bell Burnell.

Conference Papers

• Miriam Kennet's presentation to the conference [PPT: 854 kb - new window]
• Richard Douthwaite's presentation to the conference [PPT: 6.14 MB - new window]
• Duncan Green's presentation to the conference [PPT: 2.68 MB - new window]

• Framework paper for the Sustainable Development Commission - Miriam Kennet and Volker Heinemann [PDF: 85 kb - new window]
• The stark choice is not growth or no growth: it's share or die - Richard Douthwaite [Word: 122 kb - new window]
• Alistair McIntosh, author and activist - Susan Wright [PDF: 166 kb - new window]
• The folly of growth - James Bruges [Word: 28 kb - new window]
• Three economies - James Bruges [Word: 53 kb - new window]
• Brief introduction to ecological economies - Tony Weekes [Word: 42 kb - new window]

MP3 recordings of conference

Miriam Kennet and Naomi Baster - Green Economics Institute

• Part one - 3 min 26 sec [3.15 MB]
• Part two - 10 min 23 sec [9.51 MB]
• Part three - 7 min 54 sec [7.23 MB]
• Part four - 9 min 42 sec [8.88 MB]

Richard Douthwaite - author and economist

• Part one - 8 min 41 sec [8.08 MB]
• Part two - 8 min 53 sec [8.15 MB]
• Part three - 10 min 44 sec [9.83 MB]
• Part four - 8 min 22 sec [7.67 MB]

Duncan Green - head of research, Oxfam

• Part one - 7 min 18 secs [6.7 MB]
• Part two - 10 min 52 sec [9.96 MB]
• Part three - 9 min 49 sec [9 MB]
• Part four - 2 min 42 sec [2.47 MB]

Alistair McIntosh - author and activist

• Part one - 9 min 25 sec [8.63 MB]
• Part two - 6 min 34 sec [6.02 MB]
• Part three - 9 min 5 sec [8.33 MB]
• Part four - 5 min 13 sec [4.79 MB]

Seminar - Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre

The seminar provided an opportunity to gather reflections and focus them forward by considering practical action and developing common strategies.

Right Relationship - building a whole earth economy [PDF: 2Mb - new window]

Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre - further information