Post-Growth, Degrowth, the Doughnut, and Circular Economy: A Short Guide for Policymakers

Abstract

Cities are searching for policy strategies able to meet climate and social targets while reducing their material footprint. To this end, post-growth approaches to urban sustainability have been rapidly gaining momentum. Rejecting the idea of green growth, the notion of post-growth includes a variety of agendas and approaches—for example, well-being economy, circular economy, degrowth, and doughnut economics. City officials, urban agencies, and policymakers recognize these terms as part of a same policy trend, one that focuses on the socio-ecological quality of urban development rather than its size. Yet, they often use them interchangeably and, in so doing, they risk making policy scenarios seem less incisive and inconsistent to the public. This commentary gives a guideline to the use of these terms in policy. It compares the terms of post-growth, degrowth, circular economy, and doughnut economics. It argues that post-growth is an approach, the doughnut is a tool, degrowth is an agenda, and circular economy is a business model. The article concludes with a manifesto for a post-growth city, a set of principles that can be used to build an urban post-growth policy strategy.