Economic growth

It was good to see your good news announcement of slowing economic growth in Tasman district (Nelson Mail, January 12). This will increase the ability to catch up with needed infrastructure creation, including housing.

Eventually, the growth will stop. An extended economic equilibrium of zero growth will eventually mean that the building of new roads, water supply dams, filtration plants, sewerage systems, prisons, stadiums, power plants, transmission lines, factories, hospitals, hospices, conference centres, museums, playgrounds, parks, swimming pools, performance theatres, warehouses, office blocks, hangars, airports, ports and community centres, or clearing new land for cultivation, will not be needed.

Then the working week will be able to be reduced, with the economic activity limited to growing food, making clothes, and carefully maintaining the capital infrastructure.

Paul Bieleski

Nelson, January 12