A Degrowther’s Take on Neoliberalism

Antonio Ferreira knows that scaling back the economy doesn’t have the flashy appeal of a new Lamborghini, a Canada Goose jacket, or a beach house on the Jersey Shore. Degrowth, or downsizing of the scale of the global economy, would curb fossil fuel emissions as well as the intensity of anthropogenic climate change. 

So how do we convince a nation of consumers to rethink the foundation of the modern economy?  How do we urge people to appreciate the value in de-centering materiality, lobbying for large-scale change in government, and centering their relationships instead of their purchases? 

Less just doesn’t carry the flashy intrigue of More. 

On a sunlit November morning, I met with Dr. Antonio Ferreira — otherwise known as Anton. By day, he is a Principal Researcher at CITTA, the Center for Research on Territory, Transports, and Environment at the University of Porto, Portugal. As for side hobbies, he’s also a yoga teacher, meditation instructor, and a personal trainer who enjoys carpentry. Anton’s red scarf filled the blurry Zoom square with a flash of color, a pixelated image bringing a piece of Western Europe to my dorm room in suburban Massachusetts. 

Anton has conducted extensive research related to degrowth, specifically focusing on challenging urban growth and rethinking social systems to make them more sustainable and inclusive. His scholarship centers around an eclectic blend of topics related to degrowth, cities, and accessibility, and he critically engages with the way mindfulness — or engagement with one’s emotions — factors into a developer’s plan for growth. His research has further cemented his (strong) disliking of the ever-nebulous concept of neoliberalism, as well as his espousal of economic degrowth in lieu of consumerist fervor. 

In 2014, he read Tim Jackson’s book Prosperity without Growth, which planted the seeds of his skepticism: He found the economist’s text riveting, persuading him that the idea of infinite capitalist expansion is “absurd.” 

If we’re living in a world bound by finite resources, then amassing wealth as a means of personal fulfillment must be folly.

As a consumer living in modern-day society, Anton found this revelation to be a “horrible surprise.” His worldview began to change as he recognized the way money dominates virtually every facet of our lives. In his view, the root of the problem is entangled with neoliberalism. 

“What is neoliberalism?” Anton asked me, chuckling to himself. I balked, afraid he wanted an answer, ready to spew something about private property, deregulation, and the reduced availability of food stamps. Luckily, Anton’s question was rhetorical, and he briefly outlined neoliberalism’s connection to capitalism, a better known beast: “Who really knows. But essentially [neoliberalism] pits individuals against each other so that they can outperform each other so they can grab more of what’s available. Which is growth.” 

This is the sad reality espoused by the Bureaucratic Powers That Be. “Everything should be managed according to… a set of targets. Management is universal, and everything is a sausage factory,” Anton explains. “You can apply this to healthcare, education, military, or whatever.” 

Anton’s sausage factory metaphor references the homogeneity of those within the 1% who wield power over the little people, as well as the homogeneity of their values. Spurting from the end of the industrial sausage maker, everything comes out looking like bland, colorless meat. The goals of our economy are similarly un-nuanced, flavorless, trenched in a desire to pump out as much product as possible. At the core of the Donald Trump-esque corporate entities lie one driving desire: the acquisition of more/more/more material wealth. And you can’t even put that in a breakfast casserole! 

Anton sighed before continuing, adjusting the sleeves of his tweed jacket. “GDP is just another neat indicators of performance, but it says something very stupid, because it doesn’t say anything.” 

Why, then, do those languishing in castles of material wealth place so much value on a nothing number? Why do we categorize countries and quality of life and even happiness on something that’s merely another output from the economy’s sausage factory production line? 

We’re in love with numbers, and we’re in love with ranking: consider the multifarious lists detailing which colleges have the most hipster students, the most prestigious reputations, or the most aesthetically pleasing campuses. If everything can be boiled down to a statistic on a page, then we as members of society feel more in control. 

But what if — as Anton suggests — numbers don’t tell the whole story? This skepticism is a core tenant of a degrowth mindset. During our interview, Anton offered me a scenario: “When you start working, you’re going to receive a salary, and that’s going to be the salary you receive for the rest of your life; you never experience a raise. Will you stay motivated to work in a condition like this?” 

I shook my head, and Anton smiled.“You say no. Most people would say no. But I say that is how it should be, because you should love your work. Why should you do something that makes you constantly unsatisfied with your reality?” 

Tilting his bald head, thrown into shadow by the 5 PM Portuguese sunset, he delivered his most startling statement. “The way to promote degrowth is to not promote degrowth.” 

If we’re focusing on monetary success, constantly striving to make a bit more or have a bit more or do a bit more, then what’s the point? The ideal way to turn heads towards the degrowth movement is to promote institutions rooted in utilitarian principles — organizations that support well-being rather than political dominance or monetary gain. Recognizing the beauty of humility, as well as the depth of self that exists outside of numerical value judgments, will necessitate spending less on egotistical pursuits centered around insular success. 

Anton’s own espousal of degrowth doesn’t entail moving off-the-grid to a rural mountainside: he lives in the red-roofed city of Porto with his family. Since he began studying the evolving degrowth movement in 2014, he hasn’t abandoned modern  technology, nor has his relationship to modern-day commodities drastically changed. The primary difference in his life has been a newfound awareness surrounding the dangers of inflated egos. 

“You love being invited to expensive events,” quips Anton. “It gives you a sense of importance. But that’s not where solutions come from.” 

The maintenance of massive egos necessitates massive growth. Yes, degrowth on an economic level will happen on the bureaucratic level, but it’s equally important to shift consciousness away from ego-centric mentalities. A change of human soul won’t come from policies or government oversight. 

We don’t need more bold statements that are merely paper-thin  — particularly from political leaders who wish to cultivate a following. We need bold action paired with bold follow-through. Movement towards degrowth won’t come from choices made by the Average Joe, but rather from corporations and bureaucratic entities who wield influence over the market as a whole. But a scaling back of global consumption still starts with individual mindsets. 

Degrowth means recognizing why you’re googling vacation get aways with 16 skylights, room service, and a built-in jacuzzi on the Cape. In the modern day, society normalizes the pursuit of individuality — encouraging the Average Joe to strive for personal success in lieu of communal wealth — is rooted in social and environmental exploitation. 

Anton isn’t saying that sitting in silence will curb widespread ecological degradation. But it might just improve your psychological well-being, lending a bit of perspective to the way you yourself are complicit in the sausage factory. Don’t become a piece of bland, flavorless meat within a neoliberal world rigged toward those who already have power. Anton stressed the danger of striving for superficial accolades: “We don’t need more leaders of tomorrow. Embracing economic degrowth should come from a place of compassion, clarity, humility.” 

So, if you want to reckon with the Neoliberal Tyrants at large — both the Trumps and the Hillarys alike — consider breaking up with numbers. It’s just not a healthy relationship. Consider taking up yoga in lieu of stock trading and vegetable gardening in lieu of Saturday morning shopping sprees. And —  if you’d like to take a meditation class and find yourself in Portugal —  consider contacting Anton: perhaps you can bond over a shared dislike of neoliberalism on a warm afternoon in Western Europe.