The economic engine of modern capitalism has long been fueled by a simple mantra: growth is good, more is better, and enough is never really enough. But what if that premise is not only flawed but downright dangerous? In Co-operatives in a Post-Growth Era, Tom Webb argues that our addiction to infinite economic expansion is pushing the planet to the brink, and that co-operatives might just be the parachute we need before we crash.
Webb doesn’t waste time tiptoeing around the issue: The current system, he contends, is built on the shaky foundation of an economic fairy tale; the idea that we can extract, consume, and accumulate indefinitely on a planet with very real limits. While Wall Street types see growth as a sign of a healthy economy, Webb counters that this obsession has led to environmental destruction, growing inequality, and financial instability. In short, it’s not sustainable, and deep down, most of us know it.
A look at the co-operative model. Rather than treating economic success as a race to the top for a privileged few, co-ops distribute power and resources more equitably, ensuring that people, not profit, remain at the center of economic decision-making. Webb presents them not as utopian pipe dreams but as real, functioning alternatives that already exist in industries ranging from agriculture to banking. He argues that co-operatives thrive in ways traditional businesses don’t, by promoting long-term fortitude, prioritizing sustainability, and keeping wealth within communities rather than siphoning it upward.
Webb draws on an impressive range of sources, from classical economic theory to contemporary case studies, painting a picture of what an economy without runaway greed might actually look like. He has a knack for cutting through economic jargon, making this book both intellectually engaging and refreshingly readable.
Of course, skeptics might roll their eyes. Co-operatives? Really? Aren’t they just cute little side projects for people who don’t want to compete in the “real” economy? Webb dismantles that notion with a battery of examples; co-operative businesses that are not only surviving but thriving, proving that you don’t have to squeeze workers, exploit resources, or maximize shareholder profits at all costs to build a successful enterprise.
Ultimately, Co-operatives in a Post-Growth Era is a challenge to the way we think about economic progress. Webb makes a compelling case that the future won’t, and can’t, look like the past. If we’re going to avoid economic and ecological catastrophe, we need to rethink the rules of the game. Co-operatives, he argues, might just be the best bet we’ve got for an economy that actually works for the people in it; without leaving a scorched planet in its wake.
Join us in making the world a better place – you’ll be glad that you did. Cheers friends.