RIETI Open BBL Webinar: Global Intelligence Series

Growth and Capitalism in the Era of Climate Change

Announcement

In this BBL, Dr. Alessio TERZI, author of the book “Growth for Good” will deliver a presentation on the following.

Historically, industrialization, capitalism, and affluence have contributed to the emissions that are warming the planet’s atmosphere. As humanity starts to grapple with the Herculean challenge of climate change, should economic growth be abandoned to stand a chance of success? Would this lead to a better society, especially in already rich nations, freeing them from pointless consumerism? In Growth for Good, Alessio TERZI takes these legitimate concerns as a starting point to draw the reader on a journey into the socioeconomic, evolutionary, historical and cultural origins of the growth imperative. Growth is underpinned by the human quest for happiness, wellbeing and self-determination, and contributes to the stability of liberal democracy, the peaceful conduct of politics and international relations, and the very way our society is organized: capitalism. Ditching it would not only prove impractical, but would also sow chaos, exacerbating conflict within and between societies. Rather than simply stating impossibilities, the book draws a credible agenda to enroll capitalism in the fight to stave off climate catastrophe. Shelving command-and-control solutions, or the complete reliance on the market, TERZI details a plan involving an activist government, proactive business, and engaged citizens.

Information

  • Time and Date: 16:00-17:00, Wednesday, July 27, 2022
    *Please note that this seminar will start at 16:00.
  • Venue: Online
  • Language: English
  • Admission: Free
  • Hosts: Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI)

Speakers

  • Speaker: Alessio TERZI (Economist, DG ECFIN European Commission; Lecturer, Sciences Po Lille)

    Alessio TERZI is an Economist at DG ECFIN of the European Commission, a lecturer at Sciences Po Lille, and the author of 'Growth for Good: Reshaping Capitalism to Save Humanity from Climate Catastrophe'.
    Prior to this, he was an Affiliate Fellow at Bruegel, the Brussels-based economics think-tank, and a Visiting Fellow and Fulbright Scholar at the Harvard Kennedy School. He also has work experience from the European Central Bank's EMU governance division and in sovereign risk analysis from BMI Research (Fitch Ratings). His policy work and commentaries have been featured on leading media outlets including the Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, BBC World News, Bloomberg, Tagesschau, Euronews, Corriere della Sera, Project Syndicate, Les Echos, France Culture, and Arte.
    He obtained a PhD from the Hertie School with a thesis on economic growth, holds an MPA in economic policy from the London School of Economics, and a BSc in international economics from Bocconi University.

  • Commentator: KAWAGUCHI Yukihiro (Director for Industrial Green Transformation, Manufacturing Industries Bureau, METI)
  • Moderator: WATANABE Tetsuya (Vice President, RIETI)