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Scientific paper

Text

Nicholas Georgescu-Roegen and degrowth

Author:
Antoine Missemer

Entry type:
Scientific paper

Year of publication:
2016

Publishers:
The European Journal of the History of Economic Thought

Language:
English

External content:
To the content

Keywords: History of economic thought, Georgescu-Roegen, degrowth, bioeconomics, agrowth

Abstract: As a peculiar economist of the twentieth century, Nicholas Georgescu-Roegen gave birth to many controversies. Since the 1970s, in particular in the French language literature, Georgescu-Roegen's ecological claim has often been considered as a promotion of degrowth. In this paper, I challenge this usual interpretation. I conclude that Georgescu-Roegen might be a source of inspiration for degrowth defenders only in a very narrow sense. A cautious reading of his bioeconomic paradigm shows that Georgescu-Roegen's stance was different from the growth/degrowth debate, and might be more accurately linked with an “agrowth” option.

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