Public acceptance of post-growth

Factors and implications for post-growth strategy

Bibliographic Data

ID9844898
AuthorsLily Paulson (University of Leeds), Milena Büchs (0000-0001-6304-3196, University of Leeds, corresponding author)
Year2022
Volume143
Pages103020
Publication date2022-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFutures (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0016-3287 • E-ISSN: 1873-6378
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.futures.2022.103020
OpenAlexW4293083725
LanguageEN
Citations received32
References cited42

Growing evidence supports the need to re-evaluate the nature and function of our economies in favour of post-growth principles if we are to have a socially and environmentally viable future. This study contributes to the discussion on how to achieve such a future by addressing a remaining gap in the literature about the public acceptance of post-growth, since a viable transition requires public support to validate political actions. Taking a mixed-methods approach, we ask which values and socio-economic characteristics are associated with support for post-growth and why. On average among 34 European countries, 60.5 % of people are in favour of post-growth. Values such as environmentalism, collectivism and post-materialism were found to support post-growth visions of the future, but support for post-growth and these values is lower among disadvantaged people. We conclude that greater emphasis on redistribution and improving opportunities and livelihoods for disadvantaged people in a post-growth economy is key to making such a future more acceptable to them. However, this conflicts with policy preferences and values such as hierarchy, meritocracy, and individualism that tend to be more prominent among people who are well-off

Collectivism · Disadvantaged · Economic growth · Economics · Inclusive growth · Individualism · Livelihood · Market economy · Meritocracy · Political science · Politics · Poverty · Redistribution (election · Social acceptance · Sustainable Growth Rate · Climate Change Communication and Perception · Environmental Education and Sustainability · Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction · Psychology · Social Psychology

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