Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
growth. This would almost certainly result in the rate of economic growth,
as it is now measured, declining. But it does not mean that the Australian
standard of living would diminish. On the contrary, the point of policies
designed to improve the natural environment, reduce overwork and increase
opportunities for community, sporting and artistic engagement is to
improve the standard of living. The key to such a shift, however, is to expose
the flawed belief, at both individual and government levels, that higher and
higher measures of income and consumption will inevitably result in
increased well-being.
The Australian economy has grown strongly for the last 50 years. Real
incomes are now three times higher than in 1950. However 47 per cent of
people in the highest earning households believe that they cannot afford to
buy everything that they really need (Hamilton 2003). The only people who
benefit from the perpetuation of the belief that additional appliances
provide additional happiness are those who own the companies that manu-
facture, retail and finance them.
Philosophers have considered the question 'What is the meaning of life?'
for thousands of years and few would ever pretend to have discovered the
definitive answer. In recent years, however, the answer has become increas-
ingly obvious to many. For individuals the answer is 'a pay rise' and for
society the answer is 'more economic growth'. Such pursuits may provide
purpose for those who seek them but if the only way to be happy is to have
the most, the happiness of a few must come at the expense of the majority.
References
Hamilton, C. (2002).
Overconsumption in Australia: the rise of the middle-class battler
.
Discussion Paper no. 49. The Australia Institute, Canberra.
Hamilton, C. (2003).
Overconsumption in Britain: A culture of middle-class complaint?
The
Australia Institute, Canberra.
Hamilton, C. & Mail, E. (2003).
Downshifting in Australia: A sea-change in the pursuit of
happiness
. Discussion Paper no. 50. The Australia Institute, Canberra.
National Competition Council. (2004). 'Overview of National Competition Policy',
<http://www.ncc.gov.au/articleZone.asp?articleZoneID=16#Article-87>
Schor, J. (1998).
The Overspent American
. Harper Perennial, New York.
