Rev James Currall: The economy, like the natural world is not without a limit

Food for Thought column by Rev James Currall

These last few weeks, as the weather has improved and temperatures warmed, I see real signs of growth in the garden and in the woods and fields around, spring is in the air.

Growth, or perhaps lack of it, has also been a key theme of political discourse over the past few months.

Growth is, of course, a feature of the natural world, but there are limits. Most plants and animals grow rapidly for a while and then slow down as they approach their usual mature size.

For example, we don't expect trees and shrubs to continue shooting up indefinitely, even though in a garden it can sometimes feel like it, most likely because they’re naturally bigger than their space in the garden.

In mid-March the headline of the OECD (The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) economic outlook said: “Global economic outlook uncertain as growth slows, inflationary pressures persist and trade policies cloud outlook”.

The press release continued: “With potential output generally weakening across both advanced and emerging economies since the global financial crisis, ambitious structural reforms are needed. Governments must enact reforms to improve productivity and enhance the adoption of new technologies.” All in the name of boosting growth, I suppose.

I remember a discussion in a current affairs class when I was at school, in which for many economic growth was seen as crucial, especially by those studying economics. When I questioned whether growth could or should be unlimited, I was labelled a reactionary at the age of 15!

But what’s the purpose of all this growth and is slowing growth an entirely negative thing? Do our economies really rely on an ever-increasing level of consumer spending on goods and services and the exploitation of limited natural resources?

Global warming and other forms of environmental degradation aren’t caused by using the wrong technology to generate energy, but by over-consumption, primarily in the developed world. It’s an inconvenient truth that’s frequently glossed over or ignored by politicians and commentators, largely because doing something about it would mean real change, rather than attempting to ‘green-up’ business-as-usual.

The awkward reality is that there’s no solution that isn’t underpinned by substantially reduced per capita consumption in the developed world. Is this compatible with limitless growth in economies?

Of course growth in economic activity isn’t the only sort of growth, what about justice and equity? Drawing on the duty to care for the weakest members of society that’s very evident in the Old Testament, the ministry of Jesus sees the restoration of justice as an important part of life in God’s kingdom.

The injustice and inequity inherent in the effects of pollution on the climate is only one of the injustices resulting from the over-consumption of the developed world, especially by the wealthy in those societies.

For decades, poor countries have been disproportionately affected by a variety of major world issues, in particular the international debt crisis, unfair trade rules, unjust labour practices, pollution of the atmosphere and seas, natural disasters, infectious and respiratory diseases, and environmentally triggered health problems.

On top of that, they’re more susceptible to damage from climate change than their richer neighbours in the same regions and have fewer resources to help them cope with and recover from its effects.

Is it surprising that the world is seeing the increased numbers of economic migrants, which many Western nations are struggling to manage?

Dealing with that on a large scale would demand difficult decisions likely to be deeply unpopular with those who believe that growth is the only goal.

Rev James Currall has recently retired as Episcopal Priest in charge of congregations in Sutherland and Easter Ross.

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