I can't speak for Chris, but I think the whole idea is that we CAN'T have a growth model. We need a sustainability model. We need to stop growing. We need to figure out how prosperity can increase while growth is declining or steady. (Growth being resources used, population, etc).
IMHO, I picture it being something where everything is designed and built to be reused and repaired to last forever. Clearly, manufactoring will not be a large part of that system. Agriculture will have increased importance. Everything that is consumed (fuel, food, water, toilet paper, etc) will all have to come from completely renewable sources. Another major part of this economy will be reclimation. Taking apart old and broken things to extract the valuable resources in them. Depending on how we get to this new economy, there may be a lot of scrap left over from our current economy.
And, I hope that music, art and literature will be a part as well. They don't use up many resources (oral literature and music take up none) and are something that as a whole, our culture doesn't value much now.
It would be intersting to hear what other people think the next economy will look like, after the dust (and hopefully not fall-out) settles.
Chris:
Based on your formulation--that growth doesn't equal prosperity--what other
growth models would you suggest? One based on productivity, investment in
technology and education? I agree that the current model is unsustainable, but I didn't necessarily detect or find an alternative solution model in
your series (maybe I missed it).
Thanks,
Paul