Paolo, why do you often emphasize that people should understand growth and progress as distinct concepts, and that humans are capable of driving progress even without economic growth?

Ah, you got me there. I’m passionate about this idea because it goes right to the heart of how we’ve been conditioned to think about progress and growth. We’ve been fed this narrative for decades—probably centuries, actually—that growth and progress are inseparable, that you can’t have one without the other. The idea is that if the economy isn’t growing, we’re not moving forward. But that’s a really limited, even dangerous, way to think.

When I say that people need to stop linking growth so tightly with progress, I’m arguing that human beings have always had the ability to create progress, even in times when economies weren’t booming. Progress isn’t about how much money we’re making or how much stuff we’re producing. It’s about improving the quality of life, pushing forward human understanding, innovating in ways that make life better, more meaningful, more sustainable.

Think about it: some of the greatest achievements in human history didn’t come out of periods of massive economic expansion. Progress often comes from creative breakthroughs, from social movements, from times when people looked at what was wrong with the status quo and said, “We can do better.” It’s in our nature as humans to solve problems, to innovate, to grow intellectually and socially even when there’s no economic boom fueling it. We can create meaningful progress in education, healthcare, human rights, technology, and even art without needing to tie that progress to economic growth.

Take, for example, advancements in science and medicine. You don’t need a growing economy to come up with a vaccine or a medical breakthrough. You need curiosity, intelligence, and a collective drive to solve a problem. The same goes for social progress—movements for civil rights, environmental protection, or gender equality weren’t fueled by the promise of economic gain; they were driven by a desire to make society fairer and more just.

Now, don’t get me wrong: economic growth can support progress by providing resources, but it’s not the only driver. When we overemphasize growth, we risk overlooking other, more meaningful forms of advancement. We’re capable of coming together to address the challenges we face without needing to boost GDP as a prerequisite. In fact, sometimes economic growth can come at the expense of true progress—like when industries grow in ways that harm the environment, or when corporations profit while deepening social inequalities.

What I’m pushing for is a deeper understanding of progress. Progress is about human flourishing. It’s about innovation that doesn’t just enrich a few, but lifts everyone. It’s about creating a society where people have the opportunity to live well, to be healthy, to have access to education and creativity, to exist in a world where the air is clean and nature is protected. We can push forward in these areas regardless of whether the economy is expanding at 3%, 5%, or not at all.

And think about this: sometimes a relentless focus on economic growth blinds us to more sustainable or meaningful solutions. If we measure progress by the well-being of people and the health of the planet, rather than just economic metrics, we’d prioritize different things. We’d care more about renewable energy over fossil fuels, community well-being over corporate profits, and long-term resilience over short-term gains.

So when I talk about decoupling the idea of growth from progress, it’s because I believe humans have the potential to evolve, to do better, to push boundaries, even when it doesn’t show up as a number on an economic report. We can—and should—focus on the kind of progress that enriches our shared humanity, even if it doesn’t come with economic growth attached. It’s a matter of redefining what it means to truly move forward.