Escape from Overshoot

Earth is in overshoot. The cumulative impact of 8 billion humans combined with the relentless pursuit of economic growth has stressed the planet beyond carrying capacity. This richly illustrated book describes our current predicament and identifies alternative economic pathways toward a post-growth future.

An excellent primer on key insights and questions in ecological economics from a celebrated pioneer of the field.
—Jason Hickel, author, Less is More

Earth is in overshoot. The juggernaut of economic growth rolls on, consuming the biosphere, breaking planetary boundaries, and stretching inequality and injustice to the breaking point. But does it really need to be this way? And if not, what are the options?

In Escape from Overshoot, celebrated ecological economist Peter A. Victor takes us on a grand tour of the overshoot crisis. From the history of economic thought through energy and material blindness, we learn how we got here and why collapse is inevitable unless we change course. But as the clock ticks, what pathways are possible and plausible? Victor surveys the alternatives — from green growth and doughnut economics to well-being, steady-state, and post-growth economics — and their limits. He then dives into what the latest and most sophisticated economic modelling tells us about whether we can intentionally shrink our economy and avoid collapse, all while enhancing human thriving and justice for all. The results are both surprising and profound.

Ambitious, measured, and accessible, Escape from Overshoot is a vividly illustrated guide to the past, present, and future of the human economic project and our place on planet earth.