[stextbox id=’info’ caption=’Paradoxically, the greatest economic stimuli come with the rebuilding opportunities presented by wars, earthquakes, and other natural disasters’] “Growth” is hailed by politicians, economists and the media as a panacea for all the worlds problems – poverty, hunger, disease, conflict, injustice, inequality, and even the environment. We have been led to believe that without “economic stimulation” and “job creation” and the increases in “spending” and “consumption” which generate “growth” – we will not be content. And without the magical elixir of “growth” our quality of life will decline.
THE PREDICAMENT OF PROSPERITY
HIGH CONSUMPTION = PROSPERITY, which is desired, and FRIVOLITY, which is fun..!
LOW CONSUMPTION = POVERTY, which is feared, and FRUGALITY, which is despised..!
[stextbox id=’alert’]We wrongly assume that a decline in ECONOMIC GROWTH and CONSUMPTION would also mean a decline in living standards.
OA-Cities offer a practical solution to the seemingly intractable dilemma of…
REDUCING HUMAN CONSUMPTION
whilst INCREASING HUMAN CONTENTMENT
[stextbox id=”info”]OACities will have less GDP per capita but a much better quality of life. How can such a paradox be possible?