La decrescita felice (The happy decrement)
The last book I’ve read is “La decrescita felice” by Maurizio Pallante (unluckily I don’t think it’s available an english translation). The author criticizes the current economic model, based on the GDP growth (PIL, in Italy), affirming that an increase of this index doesn’t imply an improvement in life’s quality of people. Pallante sustains this argument by showing many examples which lead to an increase of GDP but they worsen life conditions (one example among all: traffic jams in cities).
The critic is absolutely reasonable and a new economic model is proposed to release economy from the logic of growth (it’s funny when the author quote governments which don’t even talk anymore about “decrease” when GDP decrements, as if it was a taboo word, but they’ve coined the expression “negative growth” ?!?!); this new model focuses on good production (something to be consumed) instead of stuff production (something to be sold). By the mean of a sober consumption and recovering the concept of self-production, people is able to live (better) with less money.
I think that this idea is very interesting and I agree on the arguments against the actual economy. On the other side, while I agree on reduction of consumptions, I wouldn’t emphasize self-production as a solution for the problem (beside some particular case like the one of old people assistance or children care). I strongly support the goods production specialization (I don’t want to make my own yoghurt, I want to buy it from someone else which is better than me!).
A stimulating text which deserves to be read and thought about.
I have personally known Pallante at a conference.
I’ve read 3 or 4 of his books, and I consider him a very effective writer and speaker.
“La decrescita felice” is perhaps his most political and argumentative book, but I think it is worth reading for its several suggestions.
I wrote a review some months ago:
http://weissbach.splinder.com/post/10419337
Ciao
I’ve discovered the notion of “decrease” 05 years ago now.
I’d recently moved in a house in the countryside, south of France and was trying to experiment other behaviours (rather than another way of life).
It indeed helped me as I understood very long ago that I needed quality rather than quantity, but couldn’t really explain my choices in life.
The books I read on the subject gave me the words I was missing.
I’d like to come back to the yoghurt …
You don’t HAVE TO make your own to be in decrease.
You can buy it, already done by someone who breeds cows.
You live downtown ?
OK. Try to avoid yoghurt made on the other side of the world and which has traveled (using petrol). Avoid yoghurt with unnatural flavouring. Avoid to drive to the shop. Avoid supermarkets. etc
You don’t need to avoid all that. Give a try to one or two of these ideas. You should “feel better” about environment, and if this means a supplementary personal effort, you will even feel a better taste to this yoghurt.
Your effort will be rewarded.
My english is not that good. I’d like to write it another way.
For instance, if you walk 15mn to go and buy your yoghurt, when you’re back home you are hungrier.
What I mean is : when you are convinced that we all need to use less petrol and you do an effort about it, you already feel better. When you feel better about something, you feel “everything” around you, better.
This is what we call Simplicite Volontaire. And it’s magic !
If you start doing some small efforts (because you’re convinced that THIS is the good way of doing things) you are self-rewarded and you will want/need to do more.
I now have hens (eggs), I grow half my family’s need on vegetable. Some years ago, I started helping some old neighbours when they made honey or crope grape, or … Some hours of my time, for fun, to meet the ones who know (or knew…), to learn, rejecting any payment. In the end, I don’t buy anymore honey nor wine. Don’t even have to ask for them.
And much more than that, I know about everyone in the village and get great times shared with them.
In french, bien = good & lien = links.
” moins (less) de biens, plus (more) de liens”
To come back to yoghurt, I now do my own and learned, improved by asking old people, buying fresh milk in a neighbour farm, etc. It’s now much better than the ones I could buy, much healthier and more environmentaly friendly.
Many french authors wrote about Décroissance. Do you want names ?
Best Regards
Béret Man
I’ve posted a new version of the posts including the corrections of Eleanor Jones, thank you!
Also I take the chance of posting an extract of a talk given by Robert Kenney about GDP/GNP:
“The gross national product includes air pollution and advertising for cigarettes and ambulances to clear our highways of carnage. It counts special locks for our doors and jails for the people who break them. GNP includes the destruction of the redwoods and the death of Lake Superior. It grows with the production of napalm, and missiles and nuclear warheads… it does not allow for the health of our families, the quality of their education, or the joy of their play. It is indifferent to the decency of our factories and the safety of our streets alike. It does not include the beauty of our poetry or the strength of our marriages, or the intelligence of our public debate or the integrity of our public officials. It measures everything, in short, except that which makes life worthwhile.”