Bold claim: the global economy must stop catering to the frivolous demands of the ultra-rich and refocus on meeting the needs of ordinary people worldwide. That’s the core message from a leading United Nations figure who argues we need a fundamental reordering of how our economy operates. Olivier De Schutter, the UN special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, contends that politicians have prioritized “socially and ecologically destructive growth” that boosts the profits and consumption of the world’s wealthiest individuals and corporations. The result, he says, is a system that benefits a few while neglecting the many, and it’s contributing to rising inequality, ecological strain, and a resurgence of far-right politics. He argues a new economic blueprint is required to address these intertwined crises.
De Schutter emphasizes that scarce resources should be directed toward meeting basic needs and creating social value, rather than sustaining the extravagant desires of the ultra-rich. He describes an economy that spends on building mansions instead of affordable housing or on luxury cars instead of robust public transit as inefficient and likely to fail in delivering for people with low incomes.
This call aligns with The Guardian’s Beyond Growth series, which last month highlighted critiques of the constant pursuit of unbounded growth that critics say fuels ecological breakdown and widening inequality. In April, De Schutter plans to release a roadmap titled “Eradicating Poverty Beyond Growth,” crafted with a coalition that includes UN agencies, scholars, civil society, and labor unions. The goal is to broaden policy options for governments, multilateral bodies, and development agencies in the fight against poverty. Proposed measures under consideration include universal basic income, job guarantees, debt cancellation, and a steep wealth tax.
A key aspect of the plan is its synchronization with two broader initiatives: a UN-backed effort led by Secretary-General António Guterres to redefine the metrics of economic success away from GDP, and a separate report by a G20 panel on global inequality led by Joseph Stiglitz. Despite longstanding advocacy within the UN to move beyond growth, De Schutter notes that political realities and entrenched taboos have hindered open discussion at the highest levels. He believes that this evolving moment could help public figures openly challenge the primacy of growth.
The roadmap also calls for creating a permanent UN body focused on inequality. This body would monitor a range of policies designed to ensure an economy that is redistributive and sustainable by design, rather than one that relies on destructive growth later rectified through crisis management. He envisions a model akin to the IPCC, established in 1988 to coordinate climate action: a body that not only gathers evidence but also identifies policy tools to pursue wellbeing without dependance on growth. The project has gained broad, bottom-up support from diverse groups.
Since taking on the role in 2020, De Schutter has visited numerous low-income and developing nations. He observes that many are stuck in an economic model that privileges a harmful form of growth. While those countries must finance hospitals, schools, and infrastructure, the pressure to repay foreign debt often forces them to focus on export-driven production that serves external buyers rather than domestic needs or ecological stewardship. The result, he argues, is ecological damage, low wages, and limited investment. He advocates growth driven by domestic demand, greater regional integration, and south–south trade to reduce dependence on unstable, northern-led global supply chains. Prioritizing people’s needs would help lift them out of poverty rather than trapping them in a system shaped by the desires of the ultra-rich.
For wealthier, developed nations, the roadmap would explore financing public services and social protections through taxes on wealth, financial assets, real estate, and financial transactions, as well as taxes targeting extractive industries and fossil fuels. De Schutter stresses that this approach is not about recession or a sudden plunge into low growth; it’s about a deliberate, democratically steered transition to a different economic paradigm.
Leading economists, academics, UN entities, labor unions, and civil society organizations back the proposals to be outlined in April. He believes there is a realistic chance to present a post-2030 agenda that balances planetary boundaries with social justice and the fight against poverty and inequality. He warns that failing to do so could leave space for far-right populist narratives to gain traction. Would you support a shift toward a wealth-based tax system and stronger social protections if it meant reducing inequality and protecting the planet, or do you worry about potential economic drawbacks and loss of growth? Share your thoughts below.
