No other paradigm has had such a profound impact on the Swiss economy and economic policy since the Second World War as the growth paradigm. However, since the oil price crisis of the 1970s at the latest, the ‘limits to growth’ have also become the focus of public attention. New concepts that can be described with terms such as ‘qualitative’, ‘sustainable’ or ‘green’ growth have increasingly shaped the debate. “Degrowth” and ‘sufficiency’ have now become new buzzwords critical of growth.
The question of the limits to growth and our use of natural resources is now more pressing than ever. The book not only examines how (steady) growth became a guiding principle shaping the economy and politics in Switzerland in the post-war years. It also addresses the increasing criticism of growth since the 1970s and examines the adaptations and transformations of this criticism up to the stagnation of the 1990s. The volume thus aims to make a historical contribution to the ongoing debate on economic growth and criticism of growth and the associated socio-ecological transformation.
At the book launch, the editor and economic historian Dr Roman Rossfeld (SHSS, University of St.Gallen) will discuss with Dr Franziska Ryser (Nationalrätin for the Green Party and member of the Commission for Economic Affairs and Taxation) and Prof. Dr Martin Kolmar (Director of the Institute for Business Ethics at the University of St.Gallen). The discussion will be moderated by Marc Tribelhorn (NZZ). Welcome and introduction: Prof. Dr Dania Achermann (SHSS, University of St.Gallen).
