From Forced Growth to Sustainable Economy

This working paper challenges the hegemony of economic growth as the undisputed aim for all societies, and recognises that growth has not succeeded in cutting poverty as many thought it would.It is now time to place people’s welfare at the heart of economy. The economy should be made fair and ecologically sound, replacing competition with cooperation and the growth imperative with moderation.The economy is our common concern. The world needs a new direction.This paper presents ideas on socially and ecologically sustainable economy, which are illustrated with examples from Finland, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Tanzania and Thailand.