So I've read a few things about this (most of JBF's Ecological rift, as well as 'what every environmentalist needs to know about capitalism' both the book and the article on monthly review, the environmental sections of the anarchist FAQ, Naomi Klein's this changes everything and the introductory guides on libcom), there all really good at helping me understand the consequences of growth, but I am still having a really hard time trying to understand why its necessary under capitalism.
I know that competition and 'survival of the fittest' means that companies have to expand in order to avoid being outcompeted, and I know the system is also driven by self interest and the desire for capitalists to accumulate private profits.
I am not sure why the economy as a whole has to continuously expand however, and I am not sure either why money has to keep becoming more and more money in order to stay profitable or wealthy?
Anyone able to offer any help with this?
The first bit of this is definitely the case. On the second bit, it's not just "desire", it is written into law that companies must maximise profits for shareholders. But it's worth pointing out that this doesn't just mean "profit", but more just means growth and accumulation. So many even huge companies like Amazon or Uber may not even make profit, but will reinvest earnings to grow.
well basically the latter is a result of the former. If all enterprises and firms need to grow to survive (or if they do not they are superseded by other firms which have grown), then the economy will grow as well. And where there is growth and profits, more investment will flow to it, to make more money. So countries compete to grow their economies more to attract more investment, to grow their economies more…
This is not to say of course that economies do always grow: periodic crises where economies contract are just part of business as usual.
Does this answer your question, or are you getting something else?