Research shows that many of us have decided not to return to the old normal, but to consume less and, to judge by labour markets, possibly not to work so hard either. During the long lockdowns that resulted, we had a lot of time to reflect on how we lead our lives. If COVID-19 was merely the opening act for the main event, it drew attention to the dangers of uncontrolled economic growth. Just when you thought it was safe to return to normal, along comes a climate summit to remind you that this crisis has only just begun. John Rapley is a political economist at the University of Cambridge and the author of Twilight of the Money Gods: Economics as a Religion and How it all Went Wrong.
