Debates about the necessity and desirability of economic growth are shifting. Among researchers working on sustainability and climate policy, there is growing scepticism about whether continued economic growth is necessary to achieve the social and environmental goals of a sustainable society. Some argue that we should move beyond growth as a central policy goal altogether, as it is counter-productive to staying within environmental limits.
But this shift in thinking is not mirrored among the public.
In a new study, we surveyed almost 17,000 people across 13 European countries to understand how citizens view the role of economic growth in building a sustainable society. The results reveal a striking contrast with academic debates.
Most Europeans still believe in economic growth
A clear majority of Europeans – nearly 60% – believe that economic growth is necessary to achieve social and environmental goals. Fewer than one in ten take a clearly sceptical stance towards growth. For most respondents, economic growth is not seen as something to limit or abandon, but as something that underpins key aspects of modern societies, from funding environmental protection to improving life satisfaction.
Courtesy of Ivan Savin., Author provided (no reuse)
A wide gap with experts
This stands in sharp contrast to earlier research on climate policy experts, where only around 14% of researchers expressed pro-growth views, while a much larger share were indifferent or sceptical about the role of growth.
In other words, while scepticism about growth has become widespread among experts in the EU, it remains a minority position among citizens.
Not seen as a trade-off
The difference is not simply a matter of priorities, but of how the relationship between growth and sustainability is understood.
Academic debates often frame the issue as a tension or trade-off between economic expansion and environmental protection. Yet our findings suggest that most citizens do not perceive such a fundamental conflict.
People who support economic growth are no less concerned about climate change than those who are sceptical of it. Nor are they less supportive of climate policies.
This points to a different view among the public, where growth is evaluated not as an end in itself, but as a means of achieving broader societal goals.
More than self-interest
Another common assumption is that support for economic growth is driven primarily by self-interest.
However, the patterns in our data tell a more nuanced story. Pro-growth attitudes are associated not only with values linked to personal success and material well-being, but also with values related to equality, social equity, and collective well-being. This suggests that many people see economic growth as a way to support society as a whole, rather than simply as a path to individual gain.
Differences across Europe
At the same time, support for growth is not uniform across Europe. We aggregated the views within each country in a single growth support index scaled between -1 (strong growth scepticism) and +1 (strong growth support), and this index tends to be lower in countries that are wealthier and more equal, where basic needs are already widely met.
In such contexts, citizens may feel less dependent on further economic expansion to secure well-being. Differences also emerge in how people think climate policy should be designed. Those who are more sceptical about growth are generally more supportive of regulatory measures, such as bans on high-emission activities, while pro-growth respondents tend to favour policies based on public investment and subsidies.
support to national indicators related to wellbeing and the environment. (b) Map
illustrating the average value of the growth support for the countries included in the survey. Darker colors indicate higher values in both (a) and (b).
Courtesy of Ivan Savin., Author provided (no reuse)
Why this matters for policy
These differences matter because they shape what kinds of policies are likely to gain public support.
The growing prominence of growth-sceptical perspectives in academic and policy discussions reflects important concerns about environmental limits. However, our findings suggest that these perspectives have not yet translated into widespread public support.
For policymakers, this creates a challenge. Climate policies need to be ambitious enough to address environmental risks, but also aligned with how citizens understand economic and social progress. If policies are framed in ways that appear to undermine economic stability or public services, they may struggle to gain traction, even among populations that are otherwise concerned about climate change.
The gap between expert debates and public opinion therefore raises broader questions about how sustainability transitions are communicated and implemented. If growth-sceptical ideas are to play a larger role in policy, they will need to connect more clearly with people’s concerns about jobs, security and well-being.
At the same time, if economic growth remains central to political narratives, it will need to be reconciled more convincingly with environmental goals.
Ultimately, the future of climate policy in Europe will depend not only on scientific evidence and economic arguments, but also on how citizens perceive the role of economic growth in their lives. Right now, that perception remains firmly rooted in the idea that growth is part of the solution, not the problem.
A weekly e-mail in English featuring expertise from scholars and researchers. It provides an introduction to the diversity of research coming out of the continent and considers some of the key issues facing European countries. Get the newsletter!
