Degrowth: A Path to Sustainable Future

Description

This course challenges the conventional idea that economic growth is essential for prosperity. It explores the concept of a post- growth economy and suggests alternative pathways to achieving sustainable future without relying on continuous economic expansion. Through this course, students will understand degrowth from an interdisciplinary perspective. Degrowth is an economic and social theory that advocates for a reduction in a nation's overall economic activity as a means to achieve environmental sustainability, social justice, and well-being. It challenges the traditional notion of continuous economic growth and questions the idea that unlimited growth is compatible with a finite planet. Proponents of degrowth argue that perpetual economic growth, including green growth, leads to ecological degradation, resource depletion, and social inequalities. Instead, they propose a reorientation of societies towards goals such as improving the quality of life, reducing material consumption, and promoting ecological sustainability. Degrowth emphasizes the need to shift from a focus on GDP growth to measures that consider social and environmental well- being. It is important to note that degrowth does not necessarily mean economic decline or recession, but rather a redefinition of progress and prosperity beyond purely economic metrics. The movement seeks to explore alternative economic models that prioritize sobriety, equality, and a more balanced relationship between humans and the environment. The course “Exploring Degrowth: A Path to Sustainable Future” prepares students for the current and future economic, environmental, and societal challenges at a global and local level. This course is an advanced course. It provides a theoretical platform to dive deep into some crucial topics related to the environmental and social transition. This course is an interdisciplinary course. It is taught by ESSEC academics from different fields: economics, marketing, management, and organization studies. Thus, students will get the opportunity to investigate degrowth issues from multiple lenses. It will also provide them with a new understanding of strategy, marketing, innovation, governance, organizations, consumption practices, etc. This course will be the opportunity for students interested in the environmental and societal transition, to go further than other courses on sustainability. This course is NOT an additional course on sustainability and circularity. It explores an alternative path to imagine a sustainable future.