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The state in the transformation to a sustainable postgrowth economy

Koch, Max LU (2020) In Environmental Politics 29(1). p.115-133
Abstract
The limits of the environmental state in the context of the provision of economic growth are addressed by applying materialist state theory, state-rescaling approaches and the degrowth/postgrowth literature. I compare state roles in a capitalist growth economy and in a postgrowth economy geared towards bio-physical parameters such as matter and energy throughput and the provision of ‘sustainable welfare’. In both cases state roles are analysed in relation to the economy, welfare, and the environment, as well as state spatiality. Finally, I address the state in a transition from a growth economy to a sustainable postgrowth economy. I argue that materialist state and sustainable welfare theories are capable of informing state-led... (More)
The limits of the environmental state in the context of the provision of economic growth are addressed by applying materialist state theory, state-rescaling approaches and the degrowth/postgrowth literature. I compare state roles in a capitalist growth economy and in a postgrowth economy geared towards bio-physical parameters such as matter and energy throughput and the provision of ‘sustainable welfare’. In both cases state roles are analysed in relation to the economy, welfare, and the environment, as well as state spatiality. Finally, I address the state in a transition from a growth economy to a sustainable postgrowth economy. I argue that materialist state and sustainable welfare theories are capable of informing state-led ‘eco-social’ policies that, if integrated in a comprehensive policy strategy, have the potential to overcome the growth imperative in the economy and policymaking and break the growth-related glass ceiling of the environmental state. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Environmental state, materialist state theory, Degrowth/Postgrowth, steady-state economy, sustainable welfare, eco-social policies
in
Environmental Politics
volume
29
issue
1
pages
18 pages
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • scopus:85074656013
ISSN
0964-4016
DOI
10.1080/09644016.2019.1684738
project
Sustainable Welfare for a New Generation of Social Policy
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
c7d78868-f496-4279-b5ee-cf8fdc5ce1bb
date added to LUP
2019-10-30 10:50:56
date last changed
2022-04-18 18:24:51
@article{c7d78868-f496-4279-b5ee-cf8fdc5ce1bb,
  abstract     = {{The limits of the environmental state in the context of the provision of economic growth are addressed by applying materialist state theory, state-rescaling approaches and the degrowth/postgrowth literature. I compare state roles in a capitalist growth economy and in a postgrowth economy geared towards bio-physical parameters such as matter and energy throughput and the provision of ‘sustainable welfare’. In both cases state roles are analysed in relation to the economy, welfare, and the environment, as well as state spatiality. Finally, I address the state in a transition from a growth economy to a sustainable postgrowth economy. I argue that materialist state and sustainable welfare theories are capable of informing state-led ‘eco-social’ policies that, if integrated in a comprehensive policy strategy, have the potential to overcome the growth imperative in the economy and policymaking and break the growth-related glass ceiling of the environmental state.}},
  author       = {{Koch, Max}},
  issn         = {{0964-4016}},
  keywords     = {{Environmental state; materialist state theory; Degrowth/Postgrowth; steady-state economy; sustainable welfare; eco-social policies}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{01}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{115--133}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Environmental Politics}},
  title        = {{The state in the transformation to a sustainable postgrowth economy}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09644016.2019.1684738}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/09644016.2019.1684738}},
  volume       = {{29}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}