Contents
Starting from the position that current economic theory and practice, intended as they are to maximise economic growth, are at odds with the long-term interests of the planet and its inhabitants, this acclaimed book argues that the monetary basis of economic activity leads to a compulsion towards growth.
The author argues that contemporary production is negative - always dependent on relative human suffering and destruction of the environment, and always built on a monetary base. The money-must-grow system dictates the production of commodities that yield quick cash profits, while the negative spin-off constantly creates new needs which we try to meet with yet more economic activity. To free humanity from this expanding spiral of misery, Hoogendijk proposes a two-fold strategy: reducing the traditional mode of production, while constructing a more intelligent economy attuned to meeting basic (rather than derived) needs. | 
