Last Thursday, I walked to our local community centre and watched the film Outgrow the System. Afterwards, the director joined us for a discussion while our local nature conservation group served free homemade cookies and coffee. The headmaster of our folk high school, which offers courses in agroforestry and crafts, led the conversation. It was one of those beautiful evenings with the alternative-minded people of Höör, my village in southern Sweden.
The film presents several economic theories aimed at creating a sustainable future for people and the planet. The filmmakers interview proponents of degrowth models, such as the Doughnut Economy, Wellbeing Economy, and Participatory Economy. These models all challenge the logic of a growth-based economy on a round planet and point to the absurdity of our current economic models.
Their analysis identifies capitalism, politicians, large corporations, and the economic system as the primary causes of our current trajectory. They argue that ordinary people are victims of these systems and are manipulated into consumerism. According to them, the solution lies in more democracy and local cooperation.
I’m not so sure about that.
Of course, I support democracy, strong local communities, and efforts to protect the planet. I’ve spent my life advocating for these values. However, I take issue with two points in this worldview.
Growth is an Inherent Part of Our Universe
First, there’s an underlying assumption that people only want more stuff because the system forces them to consume and that we are all helpless victims of capitalism.
I disagree. Very few people, especially in the Global South, would turn down the standard of living we have in Sweden, even though it’s based on the equivalent of four planets’ worth of resources. Wanting a better material life for our children is natural. Expansion—whether in the form of economic growth, cultural development, or even personal progress—is deeply embedded in the universe, the biosphere, and human society.
However, it is sufficient to say that humans have always sought to enhance our quality of life. This desire isn’t just a result of being brainwashed by corporations; it’s part of our nature.
Some degrowth proponents suggest that we can “grow” without consuming stuff—by spending time with friends, playing music, or enjoying nature. While I agree with this, it doesn’t mean that people don’t want practical things, like a washing machine, a comfortable home, the ability to travel, or a meat-eating cat.
We Need a Much Deeper Transformation
The second point I raised during the discussion after the screening was that the challenges we face today are far more profound than what can be solved by changing our political or economic systems alone. Of course, we need political reforms and economic changes to address climate change and inequality, but these are just “patches” on a much deeper issue.
The real solution requires a fundamental shift in how we perceive ourselves, in our identities. We must move from seeing ourselves as separate from the planet to recognising that we are an integral part of it. We belong here, as do all living beings. We are not just living on Earth—we are the planet. This shift in consciousness is as radical as the one that occurred when our ancestors evolved from single-celled organisms to complex, multicelled beings.
This kind of transformation doesn’t happen overnight, and no economic theory can force it. But it’s essential if we are to find a sustainable way forward.