Capitalism, Degrowth and the Steady State Economy: Debating Future Economic Models

This book examines the contemporary state of the capitalist economyand its future trajectory in a world characterized by multiple crises from population growth to ecological damage.

Setting an understanding of modern capitalism in global historical context, chapters consider the uncertainty of capitalism’s future and argues that capitalism must adapt dramatically to survive.. The book examines the major problems that a capitalist system faces, including inequality, organized crime, uncontrolled technological development, polarizing geopolitics, food security and climate change. To address these multifaceted challenges andminimize the impact of capitalism in exacerbating them, the book discusses the potential viability of a ’steady state’ economic model and a de-growth approach to the global economy. It also considers various alternative models for the future, including eco-socialism and participatory socialism. This book deftly weaves together perspectives on a wide variety of issues and will be a useful resource for scholars interested in Marxist economics and heterodox economics, political economy, economic development and economic thought.

Theodore P. Lianos is Emeritus Professor at the Athens University of Economics and Business. He has published extensively on economic growth and development, Marx, steady state economics and political economy.