Work

Degrowth and postgrowth: A systematic literature review of growth-critical science

Year: 2025

Type: review

Abstract: This article is a systematic review of the bourgeoning field of studies employing growth-critical concepts, namely degrowth and postgrowth. First, it demonstrates how these concepts are used across disciplines, and how they consequently have varying approaches to theory, subject matter, and policy. Secondly, it maps the topography of growth-critical science to demonstrate the topical differences and similarities in these studies. By topic modelling, a natural-language processing machine-learning method, the study finds 20 focal topics from 943 articles. The critiques of growth appear in various combinations, allowing the article to compile the main topics and to demonstrate how they span across studies. The article challenges the assumption that growth-critical science forms a united political or scholarly agenda beyond being critical towards perpetual economic growth.

Source: Ecological Economics

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2025.108830

Authors: Arho Toikka, Toni Ruuska, Laua Wiman, Pasi Heikkurinen

Institutions: University of Helsinki, National Consumer Research Centre, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology

Language: English

Topic: Sustainable Development and Environmental Policy

Subfield: Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,730

Funders: Koneen Säätiö, Kulttuurin ja Yhteiskunnan Tutkimuksen Toimikunta