Is There a Growth Imperative Inherent in Our Financial System

Bibliographic Data

ID8258599
AuthorsFelix Fuders (0000-0003-4724-6414, Austral University of Chile, corresponding author), Milagros Guerrero (Austral University of Chile)
Year2026
Publication date2026-03-24
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Economics and Sociology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0002-9246 • E-ISSN: 1536-7150
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/ajes.70036
OpenAlexW7140164036
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited23

In the article “Gesell's Natural Economic Order as a Blueprint for a ‘Fairconomy’ and a Sustainable Future” in this special issue, it was explained why and how our monetary system forces us to constantly increase economic output. However, whether or not there is in fact such a growth imperative inherent in our monetary system is a topic of ongoing debate in ecological economics and bio‐economics, while conventional economic wisdom still outright rejects the concept entirely. This article categorizes into five groups the arguments often offered against the existence of a growth imperative inherent in our monetary system. It then discusses and discards each of the arguments. Using the case of Chile's forests and aquaculture management zones, it will be explained why this growth imperative applies to private and public goods alike. Even though a natural resource may be privately owned, this does not guarantee that the resource will not be overexploited

Blueprint · Natural resource · Order (exchange) · Resource (disambiguation) · Sustainable development · Sustainable Growth Rate · Economic Theory and Institutions · Environmental, Ecological, and Cultural Studies · Sustainable Development and Environmental Policy

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