3541309

3242

At a few monthsʹ interval, Georgescu-Roegenʹs The Entropy Law and the Economic Process (1971) and Club of Romeʹs Limits to Growth (1972) were published. Both emphasized the dangers of economic growth, and both drew negative reactions from mainstream economists. Relying on archival evidence, we show that Georgescu-Roegen and the Club of Rome developed strategies of mutual support, which would present them at first view as natural allies. Georgescu-Roegen actually became a member of the Club of Rome, while Dennis Meadows acknowledged the influence of Georgescu-Roegenʹs ideas on the team of authors of Limits to Growth. But in the late 70ʹs, the gap widened between Georgescu-Roegenʹs adamant defense of de-growth, and the Club of Romeʹs less firm view of “sustainable growth.” This paper explores the process leading to the self-isolation of Georgescu-Roegen, by showing that beyond a shared acknowledgment that economic and biologic systems were interdependent, technological optimism and ambitions for the global management of growth were central to the Club of Rome, while Georgescu-Roegenʹs personal history led him to ignore those practicalities and judge that de-growth was inescapable.

2271

History of ecological economics , De-growth , Club of Rome , Nicholas Georgescu-Roegen

Studia Iranica

2278

2278