Tim Jackson - Prosperity without Growth: Foundations for the Economy of Tomorrow

The publication of Prosperity without Growth was a landmark in thesustainability debate. Tim Jacksons piercing challenge to conventionaleconomics openly questioned the most highly prized goal of politicians andeconomists alike: the continued pursuit of exponential economic growth.Its findings provoked controversy, inspired debate and led to a new wave ofresearch building on its arguments and conclusions.

This substantially revised and re-written edition updates those argumentsand considerably expands upon them. Jackson demonstrates that building apost-growth economy is a precise, definable and meaningful task. Startingfrom clear first principles, he sets out the dimensions of that task: the nature ofenterprise; the quality of our working lives; the structure of investment; andthe role of the money supply. He shows how the economy of tomorrow maybe transformed in ways that protect employment, facilitate social investment,reduce inequality and deliver both ecological and financial stability.

Seven years after it was first published, Prosperity without Growth is nolonger a radical narrative whispered by a marginal fringe, but an essentialvision of social progress in a post-crisis world. Fulfilling that vision is simplythe most urgent task of our times.

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

It is hard to improve a classic, but Jackson has done it a clearlywritten yet scholarly union of moral vision with solid economics.

Herman Daly, author of Steady-State Economics

I remember exactly where I was when I first read Prosperity withoutGrowth. It cuts through the intellectual clamour with clarity, courage and hope.

Naomi Klein, author of This Changes Everything:
Capitalism vs. The Climate

Tim Jacksons Prosperity without Growth systematises and renderstangible an essential project few believed to be practical: recoveringthe dream of shared prosperity and human development throughdecoupling it from the bandwagon of growth. Essential reading forthose refusing to succumb to a dystopic future.

Yanis Varoufakis, Professor of Economics, University of Athens

One of the most important essays of our generation: both visionaryand realistic, rooted in careful research and setting out difficult butachievable goals, it gives what we so badly need an alternative topassivity, short-term selfishness and cynicism.

Dr Rowan Williams, 104th Archbishop of Canterbury, UK

This challenge to the prevailing growth-based economic paradigmconfronts an inescapable dilemma: how to reconcile our aspirationsfor the good life with the limitations and constraints of a finite planet.Its thoughtful and penetrating critique is enriched by an outline ofcredible programs to achieve this end. A very valuable contributionto urgent concerns that cannot be ignored.

Noam Chomsky, Institute Professor &
Professor of Linguistics, MIT, USA

With much of the world in turmoil, calling for higher economicgrowth is every politicians comfort blanket of choice. But TimJackson compellingly urges those politicians to give up their comfortblanket, to re-think our continuing dependence on economic growth,and to start preparing urgently for a world where such growthis no longer viable as its environmental cost massively exceeds itsbenefits. Prosperity without Growth remains the single most importantbook addressing this most critical of contemporary challenges.

Jonathon Porritt, Founder Director of Forum for the Future

Tim Jackson spearheads the obvious truth that GDP growth is notnecessary in order to achieve higher well-being in the rich world.Government intervention can produce the desired result, namely fullemployment, less inequity and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

Jrgen Randers, author of 2052: A Global
Forecast for the Next Forty Years

Tim Jackson has brought his groundbreaking book bang up to dateand substantially deepened its arguments. This extensively revisededition sets out more clearly than ever the dimensions of a new anddifferent economics working for people, planet and prosperity.There isnt a better exposition out there of why and how we need tomove beyond growth.

Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton, Pavilion

Bold and provocative.

The New York Times

One of the most outstanding pieces of environmental economicsliterature in recent years.

Le Monde

One of the best books of 2009.

Financial Times

A new movement seems to be emerging, and this superbly writtenbook should be the first stop for anyone wanting a manifesto Interms of a worldview for the new decade and beyond, this could wellbe the most important book you will read.

The Guardian

In a world of massive inequality and limited resources, Tim Jacksonasks the fundamental questions of what prosperity really is and howwe can invest not just in material goods but in each other. This is anoutstandingly intelligent and creative contribution to debate.

Dr Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury

The question of whether progressives should abandon growth orcontinue a champion it remains unresolved. But attempts to short-circuit that debate by dismissing de-growth as pie-in-the-sky nowface the demanding task of refuting this impressive work. I lookforward to Tim Jacksons further elaboration of it.

David Choat, Policy Progress blog

On a planet with finite resources, perpetual growth is not onlyimpossible, but it is endangering the survival of present and futuregenerations. I urge everyone to read Tim Jacksons brilliant andvisionary book. He offers a detailed critique of the existing economicparadigm, and makes compelling suggestions for a shared and lastingprosperity.

Bianca Jagger, Founder and Chair,
Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation

In the teeth of the economic crisis, Jackson has written the mostimportant book that could possibly be written now.

James Gustave Speth, author of The Bridge at the Edge of the World

This might well become as important for sustainable development asthe Brundtland Report.

Paul-Marie Boulanger, Director of Institut
pour le Dveloppement Durable (IDD)

Prosperity without Growths hugely encouraging and thrilling theme isthat humanity can prosper without growth. In fact there is no otherway left to us.

Dr Robert Goodland, former Adviser to the World Bank Group

Tim Jacksons book simply resets the agenda for Western society.

Bernie Bulkin, former chief scientist, BP

Jacksons cutting edge research has already begun to re-define thedebate about how to achieve a future of human and planetary well-being. A must-read.

Juliet Schor, author of Plenitude: The New Economics of True Wealth

The best account of the financial crisis and the state of society I haveread in a long time The beauty is that the change that is neededwill make us happier.