The key issue of the structure of demand
For more than 20 years, the world and OECD countries have shown a strong shift in the structure of demand and production towards services at the expense of industry. This shift has had its virtues, as it has reduced: The consumption of commodities; CO 2 emissions. Since the start of the COVID crisis, on the contrary, there has been a strong shift in the structure of demand towards goods, with spending linked to the energy transition, recovery plans, working from home and the digitalisation of the economy. If the shift in demand from services to goods is permanent and not transitory, then clearly “ degrowth ” will be needed to meet the climate goals, as we will no longer have to rely on a shift of the structure of demand.