Mature eco-systems are not created overnight.  Energy hungry weeds will quickly cover the bare soil. Overtime, more efficient and diverse plant life emerges.

Our global economy is very much like this. Unlike Native the American history of living in harmony with nature, when Europeans first colonized the Americas, they quickly and thinly spread across the land like weeds taking as much natural resources as their efforts would allow.  The culture of “more” quickly spread across the globe, and over time, people have become more efficient at extracting renewable (and non-renewable) resources and the population is exploding.  On the other hand, for over a century now there has been no more land to spread to in search of virgin natural resources.

Just like we see in nature, our economy will grow differently from now on.  Our economy is changing into a more complex and mature one…  in 50 years from now we will have an economy that uses our limited resources better.  An economy that will support 10 billion humans (7 billion now) smartly and sustainably.  An economy that offers these 10 billion people employment and a decent quality of life.

There will surly be challenges, but as a society we will have no choice.  Economics will require our global economy to transition.  Creative entrepreneurs will find ways to generate commerce without increasing consumption (or better yet reducing consumption). They will be considered the heroes of the next generation.  I am looking forward to living in this new complex and creative economy.

About the Author: deohako

Chris Anderson is a Systems Thinker living in Austin, TX. He has worked as a consultant for several Financial, Government and Manufacturing organizations across North America, Europe, and Asia.