Degrowth or regrowth?

Despite the obvious connections between degrowth and a range of sister concepts (such as limits to growth and sustainable development), it is important to remember what is unique about the concept. The distinguishing feature of the concept of degrowth is that it brings attention to the nature and effects of growth. In classical economics, growth is associated with the healthy functioning of a free market economy. On these terms economic growth produces the profit motivation, is a requisite of effective market competition, and enables the most efficient distribution of economic goods and investment. Degrowth isolates the growth dynamic that infuses the modern world in order to consider the socio-ecological externalities that it produces. Beyond these intellectual endeavours, however, the degrowth movement is also responsible for thinking about how it might be possible to image a downsized world, which is not dependent on growth. In this context, the degrowth movement has forged strong connections with bio-regionalism, permaculture, Transition initiatives, and the Slow Food and Voluntary Simplicity movements. This special issue of Environmental Values introduces some of the latest thinking and key areas of debate that now define the field.