Letters

‘Obsession’ with economic growth

President’s comments welcomed

Tue May 02 2023 - 04:30

A chara, – President Michael D Higgins’s comment about the “obsession” with economic growth

was right on (“President condemns ‘obsession’ with economic growth”, Politics, April 29th). Growth is basically the cause of this mammal’s dominance over all other animals and has led to the climatic and natural disaster that we are now in. No wonder senior Government officials declined to comment – what politician can get elected on a policy of de-growth? – Yours, etc,

RAPHAEL DARCY,

Dublin 16.

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A chara, – The Irish Times article on April 30th, “Senator defends President Michael D Higgins after economists disparage speech”, states that “Senator Sherlock acknowledged that ‘no economic growth in a country like Ireland, that relies so much on trade, is not an option’”.

The use of the word “acknowledged” in this context is highly inappropriate and misleading. It implies that economic growth’s importance to trade is some kind of universal law, akin to a law of physics.

Yet our economy’s dependence on growth stems purely from cultural and policy decisions, which can and must be changed if we are to have any hope of leaving a livable planet for our grandchildren.

This is the focus of the burgeoning international fields of post-growth economics and wellbeing economics, in which Feasta actively participates as part of the global Wellbeing Economy Alliance. – Yours, etc,

CAROLINE WHYTE,

Feasta, the Foundation for the Economics of Sustainability,

Cloughjordan,

Co Tipperary.

Sir, – In recent days a small number of economists have reacted rather tersely to comments made in a speech by President Higgins to the think tank Tasc last Friday.

A full reading of the speech – which runs to about 3,500 words – reveals an argument for more pluralism in the economic debate. The President was making the case for a greater range of possibilities and options to be considered in public discourse.

The economic policies of the Celtic Tiger era were rarely challenged by economists operating in the public sphere. Equally, assumptions frequently promoted during the austerity were later revealed to be erroneous. Those operating as commentators or academics in this field would do well to reflect carefully as to why so much consensus tends to exist in mainstream economic discourse in Ireland. A good place to start would be to consider how economics is taught in our universities. – Yours, etc,

PAUL DILLON,

Terenure,

Dublin.

Sir, – You note that senior Government figures declined to comment, even off the record, on the President’s condemnation of the “obsession” with economic growth. This is unsurprising as we have gone far beyond any justifiable version of neoliberalism in our facilitation of massive levels of tax avoidance.

From a Government point of view it is better to stay silent, so no debate is generated. Otherwise, we would be forced to see ourselves as the rest of the world does. We are contributing hugely, as a tax haven, to rising global inequality and damaging many countries much poorer than our own. – Yours, etc,

PAUL CONNOLLY,

Cavan.