Transcript Growth delusions: “Bigger GDP=Better off”

Growth delusions: “Bigger GDP=Better off”
If everyone lived like an American, we would
need…
Growth delusions: “It’s the economy, stupid”
Conventional
“economic”
thinking,
Monetarist
to
Marxist,
depreciates
real
wealth
of
nations
2006:
average Icelandic family
3 times richer than in 2003
(Meltdown Iceland by Roger Boyes)
Apple is now the most valuable company in the
world, with a market capitalisation of close to
$546bn. Only six firms have ever been worth more
than $500bn: Apple, Cisco, Exxon Mobil, General
Electric, Intel and Microsoft.
Guardian (20/03/2012)
Growth delusions:
“The Real Wealth of Nations”
Not seeing the
wood for the
timber…
& not seeing
many elements
of real wealth
Reality check
People are economic transformers
not wealth creators
Real ‘wealth of nations’:
• Physical space
• Atmospheric balances
• UV filtering
• Purification of air
• Potable water
• Regulation of water cycle
• Water storage
• Photosynthesis
• Fertile soil
• Vegetative resources
• Pollination
• Mineral resources
• Waste decomposition
• Nutrient recycling
• Stable climate
• Checks & balances against extremes
‘Mother Earth’
Ecology
Society
Economy
Solar ‘driver’