Journal of Global Trade, Ethics and Law

Vol. 3 No. 1 (2025): Journal of Global Trade, Ethics and Law
Articles

Degrowth or Growth: A Life-or-Death Question for Humanity

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Yeomin Yoon
Seton Hall University
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Published 2025-04-15

Keywords

  • Capitalist Development,
  • Climate Change,
  • Degrowth,
  • Environmental Degradation,
  • Global Division of Labour,
  • Global Warming,
  • Growth,
  • Inequality
    • ...More
    Less

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How to Cite

Degrowth or Growth: A Life-or-Death Question for Humanity. (2025). Journal of Global Trade, Ethics and Law, 3(1), 24-34. https://doi.org/10.70150/31nr8s90

Abstract

The 200+ years of capitalist development has radically altered the entire Earth – especially increased atmospheric carbon dioxide that causes global warming. The prevailing global economic system will most likely place the world’s environment in danger, eventually posing a threat to humanity’s existence on the small Spaceship Earth. The most effective, moral, and rational solution would be “degrowth.” The degrowth movement aims to reshape society from its current trends of environmental damage, alienation, and inequality towards establishing communities that promote harmony, respect for the environment, and extension of local democracy by enabling labour to employ capital instead of capital employing labour. Degrowth would most likely entail adopting Buddhist economics suggested by E. F. Schumacher, the author of Small Is Beautiful (1973). Schumacher advocated for the world to adopt the Buddhist points of view regarding “the function of work,” “the pattern of consumption,” “the standard of living,” and “the use of natural resources.” We, the earthlings, need a bit of horse sense rather than highfalutin economic growth models. It is wrong to suppose that the human species has any special privilege to escape extinction. Degrowth or growth will soon be a life-or-death question for humanity.

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