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Epochal turns: Uncomfortable insights, uncertain outlooks

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  • Joachim H. Spangenberg
  • Rudi Kurz

Abstract

The perfect storm of converging political, security, environmental and social crises enforces an epochal turn. Necessarily increasing defensive expenditures for health and climate damage compensation combine with climate adaptation and increased security spending to drive already sluggish economic growth rates into negative territory. The result will by accelerating degrowth, an end to just‐in‐time production concepts, higher resource cost, new dependencies on metal exporters (some of them as nasty as Putin's Russia), and decreasing median incomes. Without significant U‐turns on tax and distribution policies, funds will be lacking to address the challenges. Rather than promising easy ways out of the crises, stopping the drivers, focussing on well‐being instead of growth, and exploring ways to a dignified life within the crises need to be political priorities.

Suggested Citation

  • Joachim H. Spangenberg & Rudi Kurz, 2023. "Epochal turns: Uncomfortable insights, uncertain outlooks," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(4), pages 2347-2362, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:31:y:2023:i:4:p:2347-2362
    DOI: 10.1002/sd.2512
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