Explain Like I'm 5 (ELI5)

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

submitted 12 hours ago* (last edited 12 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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[–] dudeface@lemmy.world 6 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago)

There are plenty of companies that tick along fine at around the same levels each year

Problem is shareholders who contribute nothing except money but expect growth