Reconciling Circularity and Growth : The Model of Qualitative Economic Growth

The circular economy is a strategy to avoid depletion of natural resources and to mitigate climate changes. With the current level of technology, circularity does not allow for economic growth. However, our cultures are centered on the idea of progress and competition. Without growth, it will be very difficult to find opportunities of social progress and reasonable competition. In this paper, the authors claim that by combining circular economy with qualitative economic growth, it is possible to achieve decoupling of economic growth from the use of natural resources. Qualitative growth is essentially the growth of complexity of products, services, infrastructures, and institutions. Qualitative growth has to be considered genuine growth