Exercise 1.

Reading Comprehension Task

Name: Karl Angelo D. Mosqueda______________________ Date Submitted: Sept. 19, 2019
Course/ Section: CE-1 / B21

Instruction: After reading Hickel’s article on the concept of de-developing, answer the
following questions in two to three sentences.

1. What is the framework of de-development of rich countries all about?

The framework of de-development is the process of allowing the higher
class of society slowdown and allowing the lower class catch up. This doesn’t
mean making a rich man poor but lowering their consumption of resources. Just
like in the United States, their usage of resources is about 8 hectares although in
the country of Ghana it’s only 1.8, which is about the amount one should have in
a de-developing state.

2. How is the de-development framework different from the traditional frameworks of

development?

The traditional framework is basically “growth”, allowing the society to

enhance its capabilities by giving a fragment form the rich to the poor and have a
balance. In the other hand, studies have shown that we have grown too much
because we already have passed that point of growth by exceeding our planet’s
biocapacity by 50% annually. Due to this, instead of the traditional framework,
Peter Edwards proposed that instead of the poor country to catch up, let us have
the rich catch down and have an efficient and happy living, which is also known
as the de-development framework.

3. According to Hickel, how can rich countries de-develop?

Hickel said that to de-develop, the consumers in a rich country should buy
more and own less. Having a high GDP per capita doesn’t really equal to being
happy. For example, US has a higher GDP but Costa Rica has a better happiness
 indicator. He also quoted “How much is enough” by Robert and Edward
Skidelsky, saying that advertisement should be banned, to shorten working hours,
and have a basic income and in this process a society and the live of it’s people
could improve while reducing consumption.

4. Why does Hickel frown upon pundits using term such as de-growth, zero growth, or de-
development in describing an alternative framework?
Hickel thinks that their use of language gives the person, who doesn’t
really know much about it, a false idea on what de-development really means. He
wants people to understand the de-development is not losing, seize to learn, seize
to grow or devolve but think of it as a human progress. He goes on by saying that
we should reorient ourselves to the idea of a “steady state”, which is an economic
step in the right direction.

5. Some people might think that de-development is about giving things up. How does Hickel
explain that this is not the case?
For Hickel the de-development is a progress towards the understanding
and being conscious about the reason of our existence and our purpose. It is not
about being miserable, for the purpose of this is to have a happy and efficient life.
It is not restraining humanity from improvement but allowing it to find balance
and be lifted up as a whole.