The Journal of Population and Sustainability (Jun 2019)

Environment, poverty and the steady state economy

  • Theodore Lianos

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3197/jps.2019.3.2.55
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 3, no. 2
pp. 55–78 – 55–78

Abstract

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Environmental degradation and inequality of income and wealth are two major global problems at the present time. This paper suggests that a steady state economy offers solutions for both problems. It argues that if the world population is drastically reduced and remains constant at a low level ecological balance can be achieved and, at the same time, income distribution will be greatly improved. The basis of this argument is that a smaller population will reduce the use of natural resources for production and consumption and at the same time reduce the supply of labor and thus increase wages. Also, a brief review of the idea of the steady state economy from the ancient philosophers to modern writers is provided.

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