The Fifth Estate: End of Growth?

In this panel discussion - part of our current affairs series, The Fifth Estate - host Sally Warhaft is joined by former senior economic adviser to Kevin Rudd and writer Andrew Charlton, and author/economist Satyajit Das. The panel's two guests, we find, have very different opinions about the benefits that economic growth can deliver to the world's poorest (and wealthiest) in a time when more are beginning to question its longevity.

[@wildpett]

You gotta love Das -- he is one smart dude!!! Love his take on things.

[@shamisivasubramanian9498]

Damn Charlton! Home boy got schooooooled!

[@SelectImage]

Thanks for the book link chima, I too am attracted to Satyajits philosophical side, people perceive him to be a negative person and I dont think he is, he is merely pointing out the lack of clothes on the emperor and this does tend to annoy people. Every change will have its upsides and downsides, there is no doubt that certain aspects of growth are reaching a maximum but there are other areas of human development that can be explored, its just that it will be against a background different from the comfort of today.

[@robertg786]

Two very educated and erudite men but I tend to lean more toward Das. Kevin sounds like an idealist; Das a pragmatist and matter of fact. If this were a political platform I'd vote for Das.

[@Jindy2]

Interesting points from both speakers - and I think Das got a run for his money.

[@pawmin88]

We need more of Satyajit Das's bluntness. It made Andrew be a bit more pragmatic and shun his political rote rhetoric.

[@janklaas6885]

27:30

[@paddyotube]

I love how optimists try to discount realists as pessimists. Andrew's solution is to try to inflate the bubble back up. Das was a bit hard on him although Andrew probably should not of really been given a chance to be part of this discussion. I just don't think he is intelligent or brave enough to adjust to the economic situation of today.i