Scarcity: A History from the Origins of Capitalism to the Climate Crisis

The dominant view of scarcity in modern economics assumes infinite desires and endless growth, but this vision is historically novel and reflects the costly triumph of infinite-growth ideologies. Critics such as Gerrard Winstanley, Dorothy Wordsworth, Karl Marx, and Hannah Arendt have embraced conceptions of scarcity in which our desires must be mastered to achieve the social good. Albritton Jonsson and Wennerlind argue that we need new, sustainable models of economic thinking to address the climate crisis.

Format: Hardback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 18 April 2023
Publisher: Harvard University Press

A comprehensive intellectual exploration of the concept of economic scarcity spans five centuries of European thought, shedding light on its profound impact on fostering the climate crisis.

In contemporary economics, a prevailing notion of scarcity posits that human beings possess an infinite capacity for desire, necessitating society's facilitation of endless growth and consumption, regardless of the finite boundaries imposed by nature. However, as Fredrik Albritton Jonsson and Carl Wennerlind astutely demonstrate, this notion of scarcity is a relatively recent development, not inherently inevitable even in the age of capitalism. Instead, it emerges as a costly triumph of infinite-growth ideologies that have dominated centuries of European economic thought, at the expense of traditions that sought to align with the constraints of nature.

The dominant conception of scarcity today asserts that human beings must conquer nature to fulfill their desires. Albritton Jonsson and Wennerlind contend that this idea was shaped by influential thinkers such as Francis Bacon, Samuel Hartlib, Alfred Marshall, and Paul Samuelson, who laid the foundation for the prevailing politics of growth. Yet, proponents of endless growth have encountered resistance from diverse groups, including agrarian radicals, romantic poets, revolutionary socialists, ecofeminists, and others. These critics, including figures like Gerrard Winstanley, Dorothy Wordsworth, Karl Marx, and Hannah Arendt, embraced conceptions of scarcity that prioritize the mastery of human desires over the limitations imposed by nature. By doing so, they profoundly reimagined the relationship between humans, nature, and the economy.

As we navigate the challenges of the twenty-first century, Albritton Jonsson and Wennerlind argue that we require innovative and sustainable models of economic thinking to effectively address the pressing issue of climate crisis. By recognizing the historical roots of our current scarcity mindset and embracing alternative perspectives that prioritize harmony with nature, we can pave the way toward a more sustainable and resilient future.

Weight: 620g
Dimension: 243 x 166 x 30 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780674987081