Growth is everything

German economic recovery falters

Germany's recovery from recession faltered in the final quarter of 2009, according to preliminary figures released on Friday.
The German economy failed to grow at all in the last three months of the year, with GDP unchanged compared with the previous quarter.

This preoccupation with growth is part of the problem. Growth at any cost is leading to many of the other social problems that we are having to address. Prompting consumption and borrowing to ensure demand for consumer goods and services is having adverse effects on families and communities. For example, cheap "convenience" food is leading to obesity, poor health and decreases in quality of life and life expectancy. Why on earth is all this energy going into creating so much stuff that is so harmful to so many? Why does everyone seem to think that this is a desirable outcome?
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