I explore postgrowth economy, work and livelihoods during my 4-year postdoctoral research project that started in January 2017. My research is funded by Nessling Foundation, Kone Foundation and Foundation for Economic Education. My research started in January 2017 and goes on until late 2022. I have an affiliation to the Department of Design in Aalto University and to NODUS research group.
The official title of my project is
Social entrepreneurship for post-growth societies in the global North:An ethnographic participatory study of self-employment practices for ecologically and socially just world
In short, ‘postgrowth work and livelihoods’. My study contributes to the growing transdisciplinary research and activism that challenges economic growth as an imperative. My work is not only conceptual, but focuses on examples. Many political, practical, and ideological alternatives are ignored with the argument that they do not focus on economic growth or that they are “marginal”. Some political, practical, and ideological alternatives are ignored with the argument that they do not focus on economic growth or that they are “marginal”. Many contemporary movements, such as social entrepreneurship or postgrowth/degrowth, may be downplayed as utopian while the practitioners already (partially) lead their lives based on their own understandings. In the times of mounting ecological and social crisis we cannot afford to push already practiced solutions aside without exploring them further.
My research asks
- What kinds of livelihood practices manifest the aim for and life in postgrowth societies?
- What kinds of livelihood practices are there in the transformation to postgrowth societies?
- What kinds of tensions emerge from such practices?
For a longer postdoctoral research plan and publications, visit my ResearchGate.
Postgrowth work and livelihoods in my blog
- Book chapter news: co-working spaces and academic activismThe end of the year 2023 is characterised by two book publications, which both include a chapter from me. Edited book: Coworking Spaces: Alternative Topologies and Transformative Potentials The book is edited by Janet Merkel, Dimitris Pettas and Vasilis Avdikos with 15 chapters. Our chapter with Maja Korica is titled “Organisational Decline and the Failure in Alternative Organising: The… Read more: Book chapter news: co-working spaces and academic activism
- My April in Mustarinda residencyI applied to Mustarinda residency in Kainuu, Eastern Finland, to work on a book manuscript about postgrowth work and livelihoods and my ethnographic fieldwork since late 2016. Mustarinda residency is managed by the Mustarinda Association, which recently won a state art prize for multidisciplinary art. When I was accepted, the prospect of publishing an academic… Read more: My April in Mustarinda residency
- How to transform?While I’m writing this, Elokapina, Extinction Rebellion in Finland, runs an autumn rebellion in front of the Finnish Parliament House. Unsurprisingly, public debate has started again about the usefulness of their strategy: whether blocking one of the main streets in Helsinki, the capital of Finland, is effective or not. Will it repel potential supporters or… Read more: How to transform?
- A leap for just transitionIt requires a leap of fate, good luck, and persistence to keep working for a society that takes ecological crisis seriously. I know people, through my research and activism, who want to use their knowhow to enable a more liveable presence and future for all creatures. The challenge is that business-as-usual dominates labour markets and… Read more: A leap for just transition
- Not knowingI have had a career crisis for more than 10 years. The origin of the my crisis is the socio-ecological crisis we experience. The topics of my on and off periods of doubt and stress have varied. But one thing remains: How to gain a livelihood while working for a paradigm shift? Everywhere I look… Read more: Not knowing
Eeva Houtbeckers 