Introduction: A dialogue on the concepts of degrowth and living well [“buen vivir”, “vivir bien”] seems necessary and could be very informative. Such a dialogue should explore what both concepts have in common (particularly their critique of development: skepticism regarding its promises and its presumed universalism), as well as the specific and most important characteristics of each (references to the limits to growth and environmental sustainability in the case of degrowth and the connotations of cultural identity and community orientation in the case of living well, etc.), paying attention to potential areas of disagreement, conflict and incompatibility. This is the aim of this text; it is not meant to provide a definitive analysis, but to participate in an exchange of views that is already happening.

Contribution to the 3rd International Degrowth Conference for Ecological Sustainability and Social Equity in Venice in 2012.

English version of an article which has been published in Léna, P. & E. Pinheiro do Nascimento (ed), Enfrentando os limites do crescimento: sustentabilidade, decrescimento e prosperidade, Rio de Janeiro, Garamond, 2012, pp. 201-227. Draft.