This project explores the role of business in a post-growth economy. It proposes a new research field on post-growth business models to advance the sustainability agenda. The project addresses the call for inter- and trans-disciplinary science at the intersection of sustainability, business and futures studies with political economy, and co-creating knowledge with societal actors.
Post-Growth Business – exploring how companies can thrive within limits
The Post-Growth Business (PGB) project explores how companies can operate successfully in economies that no longer depend on continuous growth. Economic expansion measured by Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has long been equated with progress, yet this growth imperative has driven climate change, biodiversity loss, and social inequality. Research shows that “green growth” and technological efficiency alone cannot achieve absolute reductions in resource use. The PGB project therefore investigates what businesses can look like in a post-growth economy—one that prioritises wellbeing, equity, and ecological balance rather than profit maximisation.
Led by Professor Oksana Mont at Lund University, the project unites expertise in sustainability studies, business models, political economy, and futures research. It addresses three key questions:
- Principles: How has the post-growth economy been conceptualised, and what role can businesses play in it?
- Business models: How can post-growth business models (PBMs) be designed, assessed, and scaled?
- Institutions: What institutional changes and policies can enable a business transformation towards post-growth?
The PGB project employs an innovative mixed-methods design, combining systematic literature reviews, expert studies using Delphi and Q-methodology, Stakeholder Thinking Labs, and Mobile Research Labs (MRLs)—short, immersive research engagements involving field visits, participatory workshops, and stakeholder dialogues. Empirical studies are conducted in Sweden, the European Union, and among Wellbeing Economy Governments (WEGo)—Wales, Finland, Scotland, New Zealand, Iceland, and Canada—countries that experiment with wellbeing-centred economic models.
Expected results include:
– A framework translating post-growth principles into business contexts
– A methodological assessment apparatus for evaluating PBMs
– The first empirically grounded catalogue of post-growth business models
– Policy and business recommendations to support transition beyond growth
Ultimately, the project aims to help societies and businesses “slow down by design, not disaster”, fostering sustainable prosperity within planetary boundaries.
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