The Growth Spiral - Money, Energy, and Imagination in the Dynamics of the Market Process

This book develops a new theory of the modern economy. Conventional economic theory is (still) based on an essentially static notion of equilibrium. In contrast, this book offers an analysis of the economic process based on a truly dynamic approach. It understands modern economic activity as manifesting itself in a growth spiral. There are two main drivers of the dynamics of this spiral: steady money creation in the banking system, on the one hand; and the continuous inflow of energy and raw materials through the exploitation of natural resources, on the other. Both driving forces are generally neglected by the conventional theory. Understanding their role is absolutely essential for preventing our economy from being more and more exposed to financial and ecological crises. This book offers important insights about the functioning of the modern economy and addresses the specialist as well as the interested lay reader.

Hans-Christoph Binswanger is a Professor Emeritus of economics at the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland, where he was also Head of the Institute of Economics and Director of the Institute for Economy and the Environment. He holds a phd and a habilitation from University of Zurich, Switzerland. He has published extensively in books and journals on environmental and resource economics as well as monetary economics, and has been awarded several research and policy prizes.