The Myth of Degrowth

Maybe you’ve heard the story of the collapse of Easter Island before: a cautionary environmental tale for the modern world. It didn’t happen. (Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

Maybe you’ve heard the story of the collapse of Easter Island, a cautionary environmental tale for the modern world. It didn’t happen.

By James Pethokoukis

09.23.24

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A version of this story originally appeared in Faster, Please!

Easter Island, also known as Rapa Nui, is located in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, some 1,400 miles west of Chile. Polynesians settled there around 900 AD. They developed a complex society, building the now-famous massive stone statues. Back then, the island was covered in subtropical fore…

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