Can degrowth policies move the OECD closer to reaching social thresholds within planetary boundaries?

Sammanfattning

As the environmental and social challenges humanity faces are intertwined, a holistic policy approach is needed to bring operations into the ecologically safe and socially just space (SJS). Degrowth has been presented as a means for high-income countries to reach the SJS. In this thesis I use a mixed methods approach of statistical analysis to identify the gaps that OECD countries face when it comes to social and ecological boundaries, and focused literature review to identify degrowth policy proposals that holistically address the identified gaps. The main social shortcomings of the OECD were equality, life satisfaction, employment, and social support. The boundaries of all but one measured environmental indicator was overstepped. I identified 8 degrowth policy proposals that each tackle 4-8 of the lacking areas. My results support other research that indicates that degrowth measures can bring high-income countries closer to the SJS and contributes to knowledge towards sustainability pathways.