Post Growth Institute
2010
About Post Growth Institute
Inspired by the wisdom of natural systems and Indigenous ways of being and doing, the Post Growth Institute (PGI) emerged in 2010 from a collective understanding of the social and ecological ‘limits to growth’, and false promises of ‘techno-fix’ narratives. Collectively governed across 23 countries, while registered as a U.S. 501c(3) nonprofit, we embrace a vision of a restorative, post-capitalist system - not dependent on economic growth. We recognize that the constant accumulation of money and power inherent to capitalism always (unequally) produces economic distress, social division, and environmental devastation. Given that the rate of technological innovation is never enough to avert these dynamics, no sustainable, equitable form of capitalism (or state socialism/communism) is ever possible. But what if there's another way? Having put #postgrowth on the map, we’re here to uplift, co-design, and model that emerging future, in solidarity with allies and dreamers worldwide. Our vision: A world in which human systems flourish like ecosystems — with inbuilt flow of life-sustaining resources. Specifically: · The inherent circulation of money in our global economy — via a post-capitalist, not-for-profit market (in symbiosis with widespread forms of non-monetary resource exchange). · The intentional circulation of power in our societies — via consent-based decision-making and shared leadership. Combined, these flows enable: · The restorative circulation of nutrients in our ecosystems — ensuring ‘breathing room’ for nature via an economy that meets everyone’s needs without incentivizing anyone’s greed. Our Mission: To uplift, co-design, and model approaches that equitably and innately circulate money and power in our local communities and global economy. What we do: 1. We affirm ‘post-growth’ intuition through embodied experiments, and promotion of aligned events and opportunities: The Post-growth Drawing Experiment; Free Money Day; Post Growth Jobs Board; Post Growth Opportunities. 2. We support unlearning colonized beliefs, assumptions, and behaviors by centering marginalized perspectives and pluriversal alternatives, while modeling slow, embodied, relational practices in our internal and external work: Post Growth Perspectives; Post Growth Bookstore; Full Circle Newsletter; Post Growth Values. 3. We provide a comprehensive, viable, post-growth vision via parameters clarifying what is already ‘post growth’, along with a model of a post-capitalist market economy that builds on what's already working and emerging: The Post Growth Test; The Not-for-Profit World model; Living Post Growth. 4. We support businesses, community leaders, and globally receptive audiences with post-growth transitions via various forms of training and consultancy; The Not for Profit Way; Offers and Needs Markets; Full Circle Consulting. 5. We nurture and amplify the work of activists, thought-leaders, artists, researchers, entrepreneurs, and post-growth aligned organizations through restorative cohort experiences, mutual aid, and social media cooperativism: Post Growth Fellowship; Post Growth Co-Lab; OANM Facilitator Jam Sessions; Post Growth Alliance.
