CSS125. Investing in degrowth: resourcing postgrowth futures

“Investing in degrowth” sounds like a contradiction, but experimenting with this idea in theory and practice is critical to developing degrowth as a viable option. This session will elucidate how so-called “sustainable finance” can move beyond its current horizon of impact investing. In shifting from extractive and concentrative forms of financialised capitalism towards models that can more equitably distribute both resources and power, post-growth finance dissolves growth imperatives while catalysing the transitions we need.

  • Contributions format: conventional
  • Keywords: Postgrowth Finance, Microeconomics, Resourcing, Ownership Models, Finance, Funding
  • Related track(s): T12. Transformative businesses and organizations in a postgrowth context
  • Organizers: Linn, Anastasia (Degrowth Switzerland / University of Zurich); Wilkins, Jennifer (Heliocene.org, New Zealand / Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona)

Presenters: 

  • Anastasia Linn, Degrowth Switzerland / University of Zurich 
  • Jennifer Wilkins, Heliocene.org (New Zealand) / Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
  • Anja Janischewski, Chemnitz University of Technology
  • Hans Stegeman, Triodos Bank
  • Alex Lopez, Ekhilur Cooperative

Our panellists will explore the implications at various economic scales: 

  • Macro - Anja Janischewski, PhD Candidate at the Chemnitz University of Technology, focuses on financial markets and systemic risk in the context of limits to growth. 
  • Meso - Hans Stegeman, Chief Economist at ethical investment bank Triodos, is aligning his work with a degrowth trajectory.
  • Micro - Alex Lopez, Board Member at Ekhilur Coop, is developing a non-profit local payment system cooperative in the Basque Country.