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ShalmaneserIII t1_itsqnkg wrote

Reply to comment by jawfish2 in Eli5: I don't understand why there seems to be a general consensus that gdp will continue a trend of growth, and why this would be beneficial, considering the cyclical nature of economies and empires rising and falling. Isn't economic downturn on some level unavoidable or even beneficial? by candymannequin

> I would say they look to something like ecological balance as a sustainable model.

Except this is not remotely how ecology works. Species grow and use all the resources they can gain, then generally die out when circumstances change or disasters strike (or both).

The entire planet is composed of endless cycles of boom and bust- why not human society?

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jawfish2 t1_itxcapf wrote

Well presumably there would still be market-like conditions and individual segments/companies/individuals would go through boom and bust. But you are right, I think, to ask how the whole ecology could be prevented from self-destructing. A look at the actual ideas is in order.

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