Prosperity Without Growth is a book written by author and economist Tim Jackson. It was first published as a report by the Sustainable Development Commission. The report quickly became the most downloaded report in the Commission's nine-year history when it was published in 2009. Later that year, the report was reworked and published as a book by Earthscan. A revised and expanded edition (Prosperity Without Growth: Foundations for the Economy of Tomorrow) was published in January 2017.

Description

The book argues that true prosperity—meaning more than just having money or possessions—does not always improve people's happiness once basic needs are met. Prosperity without Growth examines how economic growth, environmental problems, and social challenges are connected. It suggests ways to build an economy that lasts and offers a new way to think about prosperity based on what truly makes people's lives better.

The second edition adds more information about these ideas and introduces a plan for the economy of the future. It looks at how businesses function as parts of society, how work helps people contribute to their communities, how investing money supports future needs, and how money can be used to benefit society. These ideas show how the economy can change to protect jobs, support fair treatment of people, reduce differences between groups, and help both the environment and financial systems stay strong.

Reviews

Le Monde called the first edition "one of the most important books about environmental economics in recent years." Anthony Giddens, a sociologist, said it is "a must-read for anyone interested in climate change and sustainability. He described it as bold, original, and thorough." The second edition was praised by Yanis Varoufakis, who called it "essential reading for people who want to avoid a future filled with serious problems." Noam Chomsky said it is "a careful and deep analysis." Herman Daly noted, "It is hard to improve a classic book, but Jackson has done so. The book combines strong moral ideas with solid economic principles and is clearly written." Rowan Williams called it "one of the most important essays of our time. It is both forward-thinking and realistic, based on careful research, and sets out difficult but possible goals. It offers an alternative to inaction, short-term thinking, and disbelief."

Structure

The second edition of Prosperity without Growth: Foundations for the Economy of Tomorrow is divided into eleven chapters:

• The Limits to Growth
• Prosperity Lost
• Redefining Prosperity
• The Dilemma of Growth
• The Myth of Decoupling
• The "Iron Cage" of Consumerism
• Flourishing – Within Limits
• Foundations for the Economy of Tomorrow
• Towards a "Post-Growth" Macroeconomics
• The Progressive State
• A Lasting Prosperity

Translations

The book Prosperity without Growth: Economics for a Finite Planet (2009) has been translated into eighteen languages, including Swedish (Välfärd utan tillväxt: så skapar vi ett hållbart samhälle, 2011), German (Wohlstand ohne Wachstum, 2011), French (Prospérité sans croissance, 2010), Greek (Ευημερία χωρίς ανάπτυξη, 2012), Spanish (Prosperidad sin crecimiento, 2011), Italian (Prosperità senza crescita, 2011), Dutch (Welvaart zonder groei, 2010), and Chinese (无增长的繁荣, 2011).

The second edition, Prosperity without Growth: Foundations for the Economy of Tomorrow (2017), has been translated into German, French, Italian, and Danish.