Limits to Resources, Economic Growth and Happiness

Abstract

The concept of limits to growth is introduced and the future scenarios involving collapse due to pollution or resource depletion explained. These illustrate the basic problem that we confront on natural resources and the environment within a finite planet. The expanding demand for resources is not only causing the reserve/production ratio to fall below 10 years by 2040 for many metals but aggressive mining causes immense damage to the environment and ecosystems and to the people living there. Methods of measuring impact are introduced—for instance the ecological foot print which shows that 5.3 globes would be needed if all people in the world attained the same affluent lifestyle as the USA. To avoid this future requires reducing consumption and dependence on growth and to focus instead on happiness as our ultimate purpose. This chapter introduces models and ways of thinking which treat economy and industry as intermediates to that overall purpose and ensure natural resources are maintained to provide the essential basic support for humanity. The example of Cuba which is applying some of these principles is also introduced.