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4 Putting Responsibility Centre Stage: The Underlying Values of Responsible Stagnation

Abstract

This chapter shows how the concept of ‘responsible stagnation’ opens up a new way of looking at some of the problems with markets, GDP growth and innovation systems as they currently stand. It discusses the concept of ‘stagnation’ and why it provokes such fear on the part of policymakers and politicians, before examining the normative values of Responsible Stagnation and how ‘responsibility’ might be imagined in this setting. It considers the value of slowed reasoning in better decision-making, and innovating from an ethics of care. The chapter closes with a discussion on RS as a particular configuration of change, both social and material, that places responsibility centre-stage and offers its own set of priorities, regardless of their contribution to GDP.

Abstract

This chapter shows how the concept of ‘responsible stagnation’ opens up a new way of looking at some of the problems with markets, GDP growth and innovation systems as they currently stand. It discusses the concept of ‘stagnation’ and why it provokes such fear on the part of policymakers and politicians, before examining the normative values of Responsible Stagnation and how ‘responsibility’ might be imagined in this setting. It considers the value of slowed reasoning in better decision-making, and innovating from an ethics of care. The chapter closes with a discussion on RS as a particular configuration of change, both social and material, that places responsibility centre-stage and offers its own set of priorities, regardless of their contribution to GDP.

Chapters in this book

  1. Front Matter i
  2. Contents iii
  3. List of Figures and Tables iv
  4. About the Authors v
  5. Foreword xi
  6. Preface xiii
  7. Acknowledgements xv
  8. Welcome to the Matrix
  9. Introducing Responsible Stagnation as the ‘Fourth Quadrant’ 3
  10. What’s Wrong with Innovation and Growth?
  11. Challenges to the Story of Innovation 23
  12. The Problem with Markets 35
  13. Responsible Stagnation and the Real World
  14. Putting Responsibility Centre Stage: The Underlying Values of Responsible Stagnation 57
  15. Innovation for Social Needs 75
  16. The Plurality of Technology and Innovation in the Global South 91
  17. Challenges Facing Willing Firms 111
  18. Responsibility in the Fourth Quadrant
  19. Conclusion: The Scope of Responsible Stagnation 129
  20. Notes 143
  21. References 147
  22. Index 163
Responsibility Beyond Growth
This chapter is in the book Responsibility Beyond Growth
https://doi.org/10.56687/9781529208351-009

Chapters in this book

  1. Front Matter i
  2. Contents iii
  3. List of Figures and Tables iv
  4. About the Authors v
  5. Foreword xi
  6. Preface xiii
  7. Acknowledgements xv
  8. Welcome to the Matrix
  9. Introducing Responsible Stagnation as the ‘Fourth Quadrant’ 3
  10. What’s Wrong with Innovation and Growth?
  11. Challenges to the Story of Innovation 23
  12. The Problem with Markets 35
  13. Responsible Stagnation and the Real World
  14. Putting Responsibility Centre Stage: The Underlying Values of Responsible Stagnation 57
  15. Innovation for Social Needs 75
  16. The Plurality of Technology and Innovation in the Global South 91
  17. Challenges Facing Willing Firms 111
  18. Responsibility in the Fourth Quadrant
  19. Conclusion: The Scope of Responsible Stagnation 129
  20. Notes 143
  21. References 147
  22. Index 163
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