Nollakasvu

Nollakasvu, often translated as zero growth or degrowth, is an economic and social concept advocating for a reduction in production and consumption in wealthy nations. The core idea is that continuous economic growth is unsustainable and harmful to the environment and social well-being. Proponents argue that current economic models prioritize endless expansion, leading to resource depletion, climate change, and social inequalities.

Nollakasvu suggests a planned downscaling of the economy to achieve ecological sustainability and improve human well-being. This involves shifting away from a GDP-centric measure of progress towards indicators that focus on factors like health, happiness, and environmental quality. Key proposals include reducing working hours, promoting local economies, investing in public services, and redistributing wealth. It's not simply about stopping growth but about deliberately shrinking the scale of the economy in a just and equitable manner.

The concept emerged as a critique of the limitations of sustainable development, which some argue can still accommodate growth. Nollakasvu, therefore, presents a more radical departure from conventional economic paradigms. It seeks to foster a society that values sufficiency and well-being over material accumulation, emphasizing a qualitative rather than quantitative transformation of the economy and society.