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11 months ago in Economic Sociology , Political Economy By Anu

Is capitalism inherently an unsustainable economic system?

Debates around capitalism often center on crisis, inequality, and environmental limits.Some scholars argue these issues are structural rather than accidental.I’m asking whether unsustainability is built into capitalism itself.

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By Tom Answered 9 months ago

 From my experience engaging with political economy debates, capitalism shows recurring tendencies toward instability rather than steady equilibrium. I have seen how growth imperatives, profit maximization, and environmental externalization generate periodic crises. That said, I would recommend avoiding absolute claims. Capitalism has proven adaptable through regulation and reform, but these fixes often address symptoms rather than root dynamics. Whether it is inherently unsustainable depends on how convincingly one believes these tensions can be continuously managed.

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