The Growth Delusion

Wealth, Poverty, and the Well-Being of Nations

By: David Pilling

Narrated by: Elliot Hill

A provocative critique of the pieties and fallacies of our obsession with economic growth

We live in a society in which a priesthood of economists, wielding impenetrable mathematical formulas, set the framework for public debate. Ultimately, it is the perceived health of the economy which determines how much we can spend on our schools, highways, and defense; economists decide how much unemployment is acceptable and whether it is right to print money or bail out profligate banks.

The backlash we are currently witnessing suggests that people are turning against the experts and their faulty understanding of our lives. Despite decades of steady economic growth, many citizens feel more pessimistic than ever, and are voting for candidates who voice undisguised contempt for the technocratic elite. For too long, economics has relied on a language which fails to resonate with people's actual experience, and we are now living with the consequences.

In this powerful, incisive book, David Pilling reveals the hidden biases of economic orthodoxy and explores the alternatives to GDP, from measures of wealth, equality, and sustainability to measures of subjective wellbeing. Authoritative, provocative, and eye-opening, The Growth Delusion offers witty and unexpected insights into how our society can respond to the needs of real people instead of pursuing growth at any cost.

Well written and easy to understand

Gave me a new perspective on GDP and the way we measure our society/economic successes. Some of the tables didn't translate well into spoken word. The readers "raspy voice" when quoting was sometimes difficult to hear.

Well thought out perspective

An interesting perspective on our worship of the GDP, absolutely worth a listen regardless of if you agree or not

Fascinating view point

Thoroughly enjoyed this listen and plan to buy the hard copy for my home library, too many great references, people, and analogies to remember.

Makes you question the very foundation of what we think we k now

The author very knowledgeable trying to be objective however he’s a little bit of a leftist but that shouldn’t discredit his boy you really should reevaluate how we measure “the economy”

Do Not Recommend

BS climate activism wrapped up in economic jargon and rationalizations. it started slow and never picked up. trying to finish last couple chapters but its difficult