The Economics of the Coming Spaceship Earth

In "The Economics of the Coming Spaceship Earth", Kenneth Boulding presents a sustainable economic system in view of limited resources. He describes the transition from a "cowboy economy", based on unlimited resources and focussing on exploitation and consumption, to a "spaceship economy", which sees the earth as a closed system with limited resources.

We need an economic approach that prioritises the conservation and reuse of resources. In a "spaceship economy", the goal is no longer to maximise production and consumption, but to maintain and improve the stock of resources, including human skills and knowledge.

Boulding emphasises that this view must have far-reaching consequences for our economic actions and political decisions. We need to move away from the idea that constant growth and increasing consumption are desirable towards an understanding that sustainable development and resource conservation must take centre stage.

This is the only way we can safeguard the quality of life for future generations and ensure the long-term viability of humanity on our "Spaceship Earth".

You can access the text here: