The societal model built on endless abundance is declared bankrupt, urging politicians to abandon growth‑centric fantasies ahead of France’s presidential election
Executive summary: Benjamin Brice, a researcher in political science, published a Le Monde op‑edit stating that society’s model based on continuous increase of abundance is bankrupt and urging politicians to abandon the growth imagination inherited from the ‘trente glorieuses’. The argument challenges the dominant growth narrative that underpins fiscal and social policy, potentially influencing electoral platforms, public debate on ecological transition, and long‑term economic planning.
Who is involved: Benjamin Brice (researcher), French presidential candidates, policymakers, and the electorate.
Likely next: Candidates may address the abundance critique in their programmes, policy discussions could shift toward sustainability or degrowth frameworks, and investors may reassess long‑term prospects of consumer‑driven sectors.
Political scientist Benjamin Brice, writing in Le Monde, argues that the post‑war growth paradigm predicated on ever‑rising abundance is unsustainable. With ten months left until the presidential vote, he contends that candidates must stop promising ever‑greater purchasing power and confront ecological and social limits. The piece calls for a shift toward alternative prosperity metrics and policies that acknowledge the finiteness of resources.
Timeline
- — « Notre modèle de société fondée sur la hausse continue de l’abondance est en faillite, et les politiques regardent ailleurs » (Le Monde — Économie)
Analysis — what this means
Likely next events
- French presidential election first round expected April 2027 (≈10 months from July 2026)
- Belgian highway vignette scheme to take effect May 2027
- German climate‑target revision debate anticipated in Bundestag sessions Q4 2026
- Potential YouTube‑France regulatory decision by ARCOM before end 2026
Sectors affected
- French electoral politics
- German manufacturing and energy‑intensive industry
- Belgian road transport and logistics
- European digital media and advertising
Regulatory implications
- Possible revision of Germany’s Climate Protection Act to extend the 2050 neutrality deadline
- Belgian introduction of emissions‑based highway vignette under national mobility legislation
- French ARCOM consideration of extending audiovisual obligations to video‑sharing platforms such as YouTube
- EU‑wide debate on aligning platform regulation with the AVMS Directive
Historical parallels
- 1973 oil crisis prompted a re‑evaluation of endless growth models in Western economies
- 2008 financial crisis led to widespread questioning of debt‑driven consumption growth
- The post‑war ‘Trente Glorieuses’ (1945‑1975) exemplified the abundance‑growth paradigm now critiqued
Key entities
Sources
- « Notre modèle de société fondée sur la hausse continue de l’abondance est en faillite, et les politiques regardent ailleurs » — Le Monde — Économie