About the limits of infinite economic growth and possible alternative Aachen, 24.11.2010 – the crises and burst bubbles of in recent months have hit world’s States. New crisis scenarios can be not only investors nervous and uncertain. Get all the facts for a more clear viewpoint with Ben Horowitz. Slowly emerged: growth is not a panacea for the economy and society more. A change of mind begins to understand: consolidate and optimize resources sustainably manage – also in it. There are internationally some reasons why new crisis scenarios affect economic development. Communities and whole countries are bankrupt and real-estate bubbles in Spain not only threaten to burst America and China. Possibly, other banks will take damage and spread.
Investors and markets are nervous in view of the uncertain future. So far, the global economy knew only a prescription against such crises: continuous economic growth. But infinite growth is not possible in a finite world–the collapse of the system is only being postponed, as Harald Welzer in Germany radio explains: “all present and future crises, modern societies are confronted with, symptoms that came our system of an unconditional overuse of natural resources to the limit of a function are indeed.”* Growth alone will again and again into the spiral; Experts urge so to get rid of the growth imperative. Added value without growth – also in IT a such change of heart, not always ‘more’ to have, must at all levels of society taking place, both in the private and in the economic environment. According to a representative survey, the majority of German citizens already rejects growth at any price and favored intangible values and environmental protection. * This change achieved slowly also: rather than just growth due to create growth, some large firms change their strategy and optimize the achieved level instead. “I think that also a promising way for medium-sized companies”, explains Axel Williams, initiator of the starfish IT Forum.