Introduction

Wu Hong/European Pressphoto Agency

Wherever you look, nations are trying to grow.

American officials are once again at odds over how to rein in the federal deficit without slowing growth. In Europe, Greece has allowed mining projects, which could allow the economy to expand at a steep cost to the environment. And developing nations are striving to build up their economies in an effort to lift billions of people out of poverty.

But is there a point at which nations should no longer strive to grow? What would be a better goal?