The global economy has been growing for the past 200 years. Traditionally, that’s been seen as a good thing - a larger pile of money that would lead

Can the economy grow for ever?

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2022-09-21 19:00:25

The global economy has been growing for the past 200 years. Traditionally, that’s been seen as a good thing - a larger pile of money that would lead to a larger pile of opportunities for everyone.

But the ‘tide that lifts all boats’ theory feels less substantial with every new economic crisis. As a global recession looms, and as we veer closer to the limits of our natural resources, and as inequality spirals around the world - a new billionaire was minted every 26 hours during the pandemic - we have to ask: is infinite growth possible on a finite planet?

It's the central question in this video explainer. Created by world-class storytellers TED-Ed in collaboration with the World Economic Forum, this entertaining and informative film questions the idea of growth for growth's sake and imagines a world beyond it.

The idea of endless economic expansion might feel academic at this moment in history. The global economy is entering a slowdown; inflation and rising living costs are nudging the world to the brink of a wholesale recession.