From “Decent work and economic growth” to “Sustainable work and economic degrowth”: a new framework for SDG 8

Abstract

The sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) have successfully raised awareness and built momentum for taking collective action, while also remaining uncritical of the central causes of the environmental crises – economic growth, inequality, and overconsumption in the Global North. We analyse SDG 8 “Decent Work and Economic Growth” from the perspective of strong sustainability – as phenomena, institutions and ideologies – and find that it does not fit the criteria of strong sustainability. Based on this observation, we propose a novel framework for SDG8 in line with strong sustainability and the latest scientific research, “Sustainable Work and Economic Degrowth”, including a first proposal for new sub-goals, targets and indicators. This encompasses an integrated systems approach to achieving the SDGs’ overalls goals – a sustainable future for present and future generations. The key novel contributions of the paper include new indicators to measure societies’ dependence on economic growth, to ensure the provisioning of welfare independent of economic growth.

Greening work: labor market policies for the environment

“…2 Theoretical approaches to the greening of work: the sustainable employment taxonomy (Kreinin and Aigner 2021). A variety of concepts on this topic exists not only in academic but also in political institutions, which adopt narrower notions of sustainable employment: Even the definitions of green jobs vary by national statistical institutions (Cedefop 2019, p. 47) (International Labor Organisation 2018.…”

Pathway choice and post-Covid tourism: Inclusive growth or business as usual?

“…Criticism of inclusive growth (in relation to SDG 8) is multi-disciplinary, yet there is a consistent message of its incompatibility with the broader sustainable development agenda. For example, Krenin and Aigner [16] consider economic growth ‘at odds with ecological sustainability’, suggesting economic degrowth as a more relevant focus to growth. On a similar note, Hepple [17] comments on the contradiction and violation of this economic growth-orientated goal in comparison to the remaining goals where focus is on social equality and environmental protection.…”

The Effect of Entrepreneurial Factors on the Realization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and Sustainability in Indonesia’s SMEs

“…In addition, Covid-19 has caused economic growth to slow down in many sectors, leading to increased unemployment and inappropriate work (Oktora, Lolita, Ismail, Novesar, & Bon, 2020). In relation to the issue of economic growth and unemployment, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have succeeded in raising awareness and building momentum to take collective action as outlined in SDG 8 about decent work and economic growth (Kreinin & Aigner, 2021). Currently, sustainability is the word most often associated with economic growth (Gogu et al, 2021).…”

“…Those are commonly referred to as sustainability (Onoufriou, 2020). Then, SDG 8 aims to look at indicators that can measure people's progress toward social and environmental well-being while also being relevant to economic growth and employment (Kreinin & Aigner, 2021).…”