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.