Controversial views claiming the drive for continuous economic growth is threatening society are to be laid before an Edinburgh business audience tonight.

Professor Tim Jackson, Economics Commissioner of the government’s Sustainable Development Commission, hopes to stimulate debate on the nature and sustainability of our economy, a subject that has taken on more urgency as wealthy nations suffer their worst failure of economic growth since the Second World War.

Jackson’s 2009 report, Prosperity Without Growth, argues the relentless pursuit of economic growth is a root cause of the financial crisis, as well as contributing to the world’s growing environmental crisis.

He will be speaking at the invitation of Scottish Business in the Community – one of the Prince’s Charities in Scotland – at Edinburgh Napier University Business School.

Jackson maintains the current recession should provide an opportunity to forge a new type of economic system that is equipped to avoid the shocks and negative impacts associated with a reliance on growth. He said: “Too many in politics and business are not ready to accept the economic crisis is a symptom of a fundamental problem with our growth-based economy.

Not everyone, however, agrees with his premise. The Herald asked Catherine Schenk, professor of international economic history at Glasgow University if inequality and pollution can be solved by slowing down growth. Schenk argues probably not.

“The key determinants of unequal growth are institutional structures that inhibit the ability of individuals to share in the accumulation of wealth and achieve

higher standards of living,” she said. “These institutional failures include wars, poor education and healthcare, corruption and discrimination.

“It is hard to see how slowing down production of goods and services itself would resolve these problems.”

She added: “We need to distinguish between growth in incomes and distribution of income.

“Economic growth should not be confused with greed or the rise of a morally empty consumerism.”

Nonetheless, Jackson’s challenge to mainstream economic thinking was described as both accessible and robustly argued.