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Ecological monetary economics: A post-Keynesian critique

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  • Cahen-Fourot, Louison
  • Lavoie, Marc

Abstract

The monetary analysis of some ecological economists currently appears to be mostly articulated around the following core: a stationary economy (and a fortiori a degrowth economy) is incompatible with a system in which money is created as interest-bearing debt. To question the relevance of the debt-money/positive interest rate/output growth nexus, this paper adopts a critical stance towards the currently emerging ecological monetary economics from the standpoint of another strand of heterodox economics – the post-Keynesian approach. In its current state, ecological monetary economics is at odds with post-Keynesian economics in its analysis of the money–growth relationship. This will be shown using the theory of endogenous money and a simple Cambridgian–Kaleckian model where debt-money and a positive interest rate are compatible with a full stationary economy.

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  • Cahen-Fourot, Louison & Lavoie, Marc, 2016. "Ecological monetary economics: A post-Keynesian critique," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 163-168.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:126:y:2016:i:c:p:163-168
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2016.03.007
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    Cited by:

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    2. Larue, Louis, 2020. "The Ecology of Money: A Critical Assessment," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).
    3. Barrett, Adam B., 2018. "Stability of Zero-growth Economics Analysed with a Minskyan Model," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 228-239.
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    6. Richters, Oliver & Siemoneit, Andreas, 2017. "Fear of stagnation? A review on growth imperatives," VÖÖ Discussion Papers 6/2017, Vereinigung für Ökologische Ökonomie e.V. (VÖÖ).
    7. Adam B. Barrett, 2017. "Stability of zero-growth economics analysed with a Minskyan model," Papers 1704.08161, arXiv.org, revised Nov 2017.
    8. Antoine Monserand, 2019. "Degrowth in a neo-Kaleckian model of growth and distribution? A theoretical compatibility and stability analysis," Working Papers hal-02012632, HAL.
    9. Engler, John-Oliver & Kretschmer, Max-Friedemann & Rathgens, Julius & Ament, Joe A. & Huth, Thomas & von Wehrden, Henrik, 2024. "15 years of degrowth research: A systematic review," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 218(C).
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    11. Eckhard Hein & Valeria Jimenez, 2022. "The macroeconomic implications of zero growth: a post-Keynesian approach," European Journal of Economics and Economic Policies: Intervention, Edward Elgar Publishing, vol. 19(1), pages 41-60, April.
    12. Sebastian Strunz & Bartosz Bartkowski & Harry Schindler, 2017. "Is there a monetary growth imperative?," Chapters, in: Peter A. Victor & Brett Dolter (ed.), Handbook on Growth and Sustainability, chapter 15, pages 326-355, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    13. Etienne Espagne, 2018. "Money, Finance and Climate: The Elusive Quest for a Truly Integrated Assessment Model," Comparative Economic Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Association for Comparative Economic Studies, vol. 60(1), pages 131-143, March.
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    16. Olk, Christopher & Schneider, Colleen & Hickel, Jason, 2023. "How to pay for saving the world: Modern Monetary Theory for a degrowth transition," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 120343, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    17. Antoine Monserand, 2019. "Degrowth in a neo-Kaleckian model of growth and distribution? A theoretical compatibility and stability analysis," CEPN Working Papers 2019-01, Centre d'Economie de l'Université de Paris Nord.
    18. Richters, Oliver & Siemoneit, Andreas, 2017. "Consistency and stability analysis of models of a monetary growth imperative," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 114-125.
    19. Mirosław Bełej & Radosław Cellmer & Michał Głuszak, 2020. "The Impact of Airport Proximity on Single-Family House Prices—Evidence from Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-26, September.
    20. Stef Kuypers & Thomas Goorden & Bruno Delepierre, 2021. "Computational Analysis of the Properties of Post-Keynesian Endogenous Money Systems," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-25, July.
    21. Hartley, Tilman & Kallis, Giorgos, 2021. "Interest-bearing loans and unpayable debts in slow-growing economies: Insights from ten historical cases," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    22. Joe Ament, 2019. "Toward an Ecological Monetary Theory," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-20, February.
    23. Antoine Monserand, 2019. "Degrowth in a neo-Kaleckian model of growth and distribution? A theoretical compatibility and stability analysis," CEPN Working Papers hal-02012632, HAL.
    24. Stefano Di Bucchianico & Federica Cappelli, 2021. "Exploring the theoretical link between profitability and luxury emissions," Working Papers PKWP2114, Post Keynesian Economics Society (PKES).

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