What kind of growth?

By now, you may have realized that I'm against overpopulation and also against quantitative growth, its twin by-product. I'm not against good growth as such and instead, would like to see a development of “qualitative growth.” So without further ado, let me try to define what I mean by that. Instead of putting out more stuff, big stuff and bad stuff, I propose that we work on generating “better things” that would range from better products that are lasting longer, cost less to keep up, generate more user's satisfaction and cost less to produce (all in terms of direct, environmental and other “hidden” costs.)

All this betterment should be shared between designers, producers and end-users. Sounds utopian? Perhaps, but this is worth exploring. It is a least a new way of seeing opportunities that could be compatible with a flat-growing or even a future dwindling global population. This novel approach of qualitative growth could be stimulated by an appropriate tax system and more importantly by a raising consciousness that we must begin doing things right for the planet, the rest of the natural world and our own offspring. In the final analysis, probably more sustainable than utopian...