Slow Down or Die

The Economics of Degrowth

Timothée Parrique, Claire Benoit

• Publisher: Profile Books
• Year: 2025
• Topic: Economics
• eBook ISBN:
  9781805227113
• Subtopic: Environmental Economics
• Index: Economics

'A clear vision for a profoundly different economy' Irish Times

One of the most deeply ingrained beliefs of our age is that perpetual economic growth is the solution to most, if not all, of society's problems. In Slow Down or Die, French economist Timothée Parrique brilliantly challenges this myth, demonstrating how producing more won't solve climate change, poverty, or inequality. In fact, our obsession with growth is accelerating social and ecological collapse.

Parrique proposes a different vision - a "post-growth" economy, where we look beyond the vagaries of GDP and measure our economies through how well we provide for each other. Instead of infinitely accumulating wealth, our goal must be a just, equitable, and sustainable society. Accessible and inspiring, Slow Down or Die is a radical call to embrace a future of shared prosperity, where slowing down is the key to a better, sustainable future.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Introduction: The Economy, a Matter of Life and Death
• 1. The Secret Life of GDP: Between Phenomenon and Ideology
• 2. The Impossible Decoupling: The Ecological Limits to Growth
• 3. Market Versus Society: The Social Limits to Growth
• 4. False Promises: The Political Limits to Growth
• 5. A Brief History of Degrowth: From Objection to Growth to Post-Growth
• 6. A Transition Pathway: Degrowing the Economy
• 7. A Societal Project: Toward a Post-Growth Economy
• 8. Controversies: 12 Critiques of Degrowth
• Conclusion: Deserting Capitalism
• Notes
• Acknowledgements
• About the author