Measuring the transition
: developing an ecological economic indicator framework for a post-growth future

  • Seán Fearon

Student thesis: Doctoral ThesisDoctor of Philosophy

Abstract

This thesis seeks to develop a framework for a set of post-growth ecological economic indicators to measure the transition of the economy, at a national level, to a post-growth state. It develops a conceptual framework to organise the indicators, based around a post-growth interpretation of the capital approach, and creates specific indicators at various levels of detail and communicability (headline stock and flow indicators, alongside more detailed capital class specific indicators). In this way, it seeks to offer a comprehensive but communicable contribution to a growing post-growth literature on beyond-GDP approaches to measuring a post-growth economic transition. To test the veracity of the indicators and the related framework, the thesis then applies these to a single national case study of the Republic of Ireland. The post-growth dynamics and analysis of the Irish economy revealed by these efforts adds to a post-growth and heterodox understanding of the dynamics of the Republic of Ireland economy.

Date of AwardDec 2023
Original languageEnglish
Awarding Institution
  • Queen's University Belfast
SponsorsNorthern Ireland Department for the Economy
SupervisorStefan Andreasson (Supervisor) & John Barry (Supervisor)

Keywords

  • Degrowth
  • post growth
  • ecological economics
  • beyond GDP
  • indicators
  • sustainability
  • planetary boundaries

Cite this

'