Questioning Growth

November 9, 2025 

​

Discussion Questions

These questions are just to start and aid discussion. Please skip around in the list, indulge diversions, and let your discussion develop naturally.

​

1. ​Why do most people assume economies should aspire to growth instead of staying steady, or shrinking in certain areas? What are your thoughts on the article linked below? Did you watch the video?

2. There are unavoidable rhythms in a full human lifespan: we grow physically and mentally, we have a period of stability, then we decline in physical and cognitive ability. Does our culture favour one phase of life over the others? Why? Are you aware of cultures that value life phases differently than ours?

3. Are recessions always bad? If a Canadian recession can't be avoided, how can we make the best of it?

4. Do you tend to think of the economy as a singular thing, or do you think of many sectors? What differences do you see in the stock market versus the consumer economy?

5. Are you aware of income disparity, and how it has tracked over the past few decades? Should this be reported as prominently as growth statistics like GDP (Gross Domestic Product)?

6. Do you consider the recent drop in real estate purchase and rental prices in Calgary a positive or negative thing? Can we address the housing affordability crisis without price drops? How?

7. What are your thoughts on the federal budget introduced this week? As Canada faces the possibility of economic shrinkage as a consequence of current American trade policy, can we find success, motivation and even identity in lateral changes, development of aspects of society that are rarely measured economically, and shrinkage of economic areas that could be seen as problematic?