Is happiness possible in a degrowth society?

Abstract

Degrowth, i.e., a planned reduction in environmental impacts and economic scale, is increasingly discussed as a viable option for achieving sustainability. Yet, opponents counter that degrowth entails declines in economic standards, which will, in turn, reduce individual happiness and collective wellbeing. Our study explores the existing theoretical debate empirically, examining the case of Japan. There long-term decline in economic standards has not led to long-term decline in subjective wellbeing, thus bolstering the case for degrowth.