Going Beyond Economic Growth

The Caritas Europa publication, Going Beyond Economic Growth, invites readers to rethink how we define progress and prosperity. And it urges us to consider that endless GDP growth is not the solution to global challenges: “As long as our economy is driven by profit and limitless economic growth, it will continue to be destructive, in social, environmental and political terms.”

Drawing from Catholic Social Teaching, the report critiques the dominant growth-centric model and concepts like “green growth”, which keeps economic growth at the core of policymaking. It explores the systemic costs of unchecked growth: from biodiversity loss and climate change to rising socio-economic inequalities. The publication also sheds light on Europe’s role in perpetuating these dynamics.

The report sets out Caritas Europa’s vision of what constitutes a just economy, why it is needed and how the European Union (policymakers in the EU institutions and in EU Member State governments), as well as other European national governments, can exercise political leadership to help build it. Caritas Europa calls for transformative change to our economic and financial policies and, at a deeper level, to the way we think about progress, “development” and what constitutes a good, fulfilling life.

Caritas Europa reminds us that we can design a new economy which proactively works for the common good and shows solidarity – but it requires a mind shift: “As long as Europe continues to prioritise its economic growth and competitiveness over working in solidarity and cooperation with the Global South, it will fail to be the global climate and human rights leader and trusted partner it strives to be”.