The Growth Delusion

Hear prize-winning reporter and Africa editor for the Financial Times, David Pilling discuss his new book, The Growth Delusion, which explores how economists and the cult of growth have hijacked policymaking and infiltrated our thinking about what makes societies work.

Based on extensive reporting and interviews with some of the world’s leading economists and thinkers – from the US to Holland, South Korea to Ghana – Pilling exposes how much of what is important to our wellbeing – clean air, safe streets, steady jobs and sound minds – lies outside the purview of GDP, our standard measure of success.

A revelatory exploration of the pitfalls of how we measure societies, The Growth Delusion demonstrates how our focus on economic growth is distorting our view of what really matters and is leading to policies that are increasingly at odds with people’s lived experience.

David is a journalist of the very highest calibre, having occupied two of the most senior positions at the FT, first as Asia Editor and now as Africa Editor. He is also a wonderful storyteller.

Join us for an enlightening evening discussing an issue that lies at the heart of our current social and political climate.

Tickets are free for members and £3 for non-members.

All proceeds from our cultural programme go to the Kibera Hamlets School in Nairobi, where Second Home has funded the construction of a new school building designed by our architects Selgas Cano.