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Degrowth and prisoner's dilemma (reddthat.com)

submitted 11 months ago by clehaxze@reddthat.com to c/environment@beehaw.org

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I've been tried reading about how degrowth can safe the planet - personally I don't buy stuff I don't need, uses public transport extensively, etc. it happens to me naturally - But I don't see how people and countries can apply degrowth without fear that others in our capitalist world would take advantage.

For example. let's say the suddenly the UK decided to degeowth and stop making so much investments into the industrial sector. The international investments would simply go to countries that would accept the investments. It feels like degrowth is stuck in a prisoner's dilemma. And there's no obvious way around it.

How can this be solved?

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[–] poVoq 4 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

Degrowth can only work when there is a demand side reduction. Investments into industry can really only directly affect the supply side. So as long as a degrowth movement can succeed to decouple demand from prices, there is not much one can do to change that on the supply side.