Explain Like I'm 5 (ELI5)

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ELI5 why is perpetual growth "inherent" to capitalism? Is it? (lemmy.world)

submitted 14 hours ago* (last edited 14 hours ago) by ivanafterall@lemmy.world to c/eli5@lemmy.world

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Why can't I, in theory, start a business, grow it until it's successful, then just...be content and stop growing? Why do people talk about it as inherent to the system to grow like cancer? What about capitalism causes that and why can't we avoid it? Like, technically speaking?

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[–] MalReynolds@slrpnk.net 3 points 13 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago) (1 children)

No reason, plenty of private companies do that, but they usually stay on the smaller side, so you don't hear about it. Valve (Steam) is a prominent example. If you have the chance to work for one, take it, good chance you'll be treated well. It's when companies are publicly traded and sociopathic CEOs take the reins saying 'I have an obligation to my shareholders' and 'line must go up' that things truly go to shit. So, some combination of putting psychos in charge, the greed of capital and a lack of regulation IMO.

[–] ivanafterall@lemmy.world 4 points 13 hours ago

As I've sat here thinking about it, I think you're right and that the answer is really, "because you WON'T be content and stop growing." Or rather, "even if you are content with enough, others won't be and thus bad actors are incentivized." Thus the need for regulations, at a minimum.