Single Idea 23140

[catalogued under 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 11. Capitalism]

Full Idea

It is the drive for growth, not capitalism in particular, that makes environmental disasters happen. Those caused by the command economics of Eastern Europe were far greater than even the worst known in Western Europe.

Gist of Idea

Environmental disasters result not from capitalism, but from a general drive for growth

Source

Adam Gopnik (A Thousand Small Sanities [2019], 3)

Book Reference

Gopnik,Adam: 'A Thousand Small Sanities' [riverrun 2019], p.170


A Reaction

So the next question is whether you can have capitalism without a drive for growth. I would have thought not, given the role recycled profit plays in driving capitalism. Command economies are more easily swept away.