The Seductive but Deceptive Sirens of Degrowth.
It is not degrowth that will save us.
It's the hit of the end of summer 2022: only degrowth can still save us!
The multiplication of heat waves, fires, drought, the violent storm in Corsica, and the dreadful floods in Pakistan have come as a brutal reminder that climate change is indeed a global reality.
As a direct consequence, these tragedies have allowed the proponents of degrowth to find a new audience among concerned citizens, and to be invited to all debates on the environment. Even if the conceptions defended by the advocates of reduced activity are variable, even contradictory, the underlying idea is simple: since economic growth and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions are by essence antinomic, there is only one possible path: that of reduction.
Those who object to the complexity and damage of such a process are told that thanks to “planning,” a magical term with vague epithets such as “democratic,” “social” or “solidarity-based,” degrowth would become both acceptable and effective. And many cite as an example that small Scandinavian nation that would be a model of its kind: Denmark.
Celebrated in particular for its investments in windmills, its efforts to protect natural areas, and the use of public transport and bicycles in its lovely capital Copenhagen, the country of Kierkegaard, Andersen, and Karen Blixen would show that it is possible to make resolutely ambitious choices in environmental matters while maintaining a remarkable quality of life.
This is an attractive argument, but it is misleading.
Denmark indeed is one of the most advanced nations in this field. The latest edition (2022) of the EPI (Environmental Performance Index) ranking of Yale University confirms this. According to this very comprehensive ranking, which covers 180 countries and groups 40 indicators around three major themes: climate change, ecosystem vitality, and health, Denmark is number one in the world!
But the reasons for Denmark's environmental performance are not at all linked to the decline in growth! On the contrary.
Since the year 2000, Denmark has in no way given up on economic development; it has continued to grow at a steady pace. The per capita income and average salary of Danes are now 50% higher than those of the French, for example. Far from seeking autarky, Denmark has also continued to be rooted in globalization, with exports accounting for more than 31% of its GDP, compared with nearly 20% for France.
Finally, Denmark is one of the best in the rankings on business climate, economic freedom, and innovation. On the other hand, contrary to popular belief, new car sales (per capita) were recently higher in Denmark than in France, as were greenhouse gas emissions...
If the Danish example can inspire the rest of Europe, it is above all for its efforts in terms of competitiveness and budgetary discipline, which have enabled it to release the financial resources necessary for the ecological transition, the expansion of renewable energies and recycling, and the construction of low-energy infrastructures.
It is also worth highlighting the constant political will to make the economy "greener" without giving up its dynamism, but also the daily individual behavior of a population known for its sobriety, its civic-mindedness, and ... its love of cycling.
Some reading
A Scientific Study Confirms It: The Bitcoin Mining Industry Is Well Dispersed Around the World. Bitcoin opponents who dare to criticize the concentration of the Bitcoin mining industry should take the time to read this study. But, they probably won’t.
Digital Euro: ECB chooses Amazon … Bitcoin is still your best option. In the face of the public-private alliance to build a society of mass surveillance, Bitcoin will be your best weapon.
When Hyperinflation Rhymes With Chaos — The Story of Zimbabwe With Inflation of 231,000,000% in 2008. Robert Mugabe’s land reform ruined a country that was once the breadbasket of southern Africa.