Social-Ecological Economic Discussion Papers
Opening-up ideas for critical reflection and debate.
SEE 25/1
What’s Wrong with Degrowth?
Clive L. Spash
Keywords: degrowth, post-growth, doughnut economics, steady-state economics, critical realism, growth imaginary, limits, post-development
Abstract: Why is degrowth being dropped by some of its highest profile populist writers? What happened to degrowth’s foundational concerns for biophysical reality, limits and stopping the imperialist spread of growth as development? Is the second generation of degrowth writers losing touch with reality and common sense? Key positions and conflicts are drawn out of selected speeches from two European Parliament conferences: Post-Growth 2018 and Beyond Growth 2023. Plenary speeches are analysed to address the question of how compatible are the different perspective of degrowth (Giorgos Kallis), post-growth (Tim Jackson), doughnut (Kate Raworth) and steady-state (Timothy Parrique). Political pragmatism is shown to conflict with creating meaningful and coherent understanding. Specific issues raised are the implications of the growth imaginary, the reality of limits, and planetary boundaries vs. post-development A critical realist perspective highlights a range of issues affecting degrowth including the need for rational judgment in theory choice, realism in conceptualisation, connecting activism to science, and attending to causal mechanisms and structure to identify potentiality for systems change. The paper reveals how far degrowth has drifted from its origins.
SEE 25/2
The System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA): A Critical Appraisal
Tone Smith
Keywords: environmental accounting, ecosystems, radical transformation, monetary valuation
Abstract: The roots of System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA) goes back to the 1970s, but its establishment only took off after 1992. Since then SEEA has been implemented in many countries, and parts of the SEEA accounts are now mandatory reporting under EU law. In this article, I present some of its various uses. As I will show, SEEA is at best a mixed blessing, with strong theoretical ties to neoclassical environmental economics and its capital approach to sustainability. Also, the newer extension of SEEA, including ecosystem accounting and their monetary valuation, are unlikely to support an agenda for a radical social-ecological transformation.
SEE 25/3
A Short Introduction to Ecological Economics
Tone Smith
Keywords: Ecological economics, social-ecological economics, limits to growth, degrowth, plural values
Abstract: As the interest in heterodox economic theories increases so does the demand for overview articles presenting these theories. This discussion paper provides a short overview of the most important elements of the field of ecological economics. After a short historical introduction, it presents key concepts, a comparison with environmental economics, different directions within the field, examples of practical application, and finally a short reflection on the future direction.