Why Might Economic Growth Not Always Be A Good Thing?

Why Might Economic Growth Not Always Be A Good Thing?

When a country undertakes the challenge of economic growth, it does it

for a number of reasons, but possibly the most important of these is

to satisfy its population. At the end of the Second World War, South

Korea wanted to grow economically in order to escape their

predominantly farming lifestyles and to experience all of the benefits

of consumerism.

But instead what South Koreaand many other developing economies find

themselves left with is far from their idealistic dreams. Growth is

not always something to be welcome for the vast majority of

economically growing countries and can have devestating effects.

The problems we see today is endless. From the smallest microcosm to

the entire earth, economic growth and waste is slowly destroying

everything around us. As members of an industrialised society the

effects are all too apparent. And in general, the destroying of the

landscape and the pollution of air and water decrease our ability to

enjoy the "real" amenities of life, thus questioning the accepted

opinion that materialism brings more to our daily lives than for

example, the life of someone in a pristine and enjoyable natural

environment. As I sit here writing this essay, in front of me lie vast

swathes of land ripped wide open, and in their place, concrete sits.

To the growing economies of the world, we must pose one question and

one question alone - Is this what you really want?

Socially, one might argue that perhaps, economic growth might be a

good thing. All of the stereos, holidays, mobile phones and

apartments, some might say bring "enjoyment". But with this massive

growth often society "wants" are often created faster than the

industrial machine can satisfy them, leading to a continual, bitter

desire that always rises beyond what can satisfy it. Human nature

dictates this. I will not stop and be satisfied with my Jaguar, my

Rolls Royce and my BMW - no, now I want a Mercedes. This leaves people

often dissatisfied than before, when consumerism had been given a

lower value. Today, in our "advanced" society, consumption exists not

to satisfy consumer wants, but merely to justify production. Not only

this, but also the demands of high economic growth and consumerism

also place a huge toll on the cogs of the industrial machine, the

workers. Why do some many people take depressants and commit suicide

in developed nations if they are really enjoying the "real" amenities

of life? The stress and high-paced lifestyle is not always what people

in less developed countries or even in developed countries would

necessarily want.

So far, I have merely dealt with the problems that countries that have