Economies have been expanding and contracting since their inception, but to understand the recent economic crash we have to understand a few of the assumptions upon which ours is built.

The past century of human development has seen unprecedented growth in just about every sector, due mainly to the advent of cheap energy (and specifically oil). The resulting economic system is based on the principle of unlimited and sustained growth--but unfortunately for this idea, any increase in economic activity is predicated upon an increase in energy supplies. Thus static or declining supplies of energy result in a similar economic stasis or decline.

In spite of this, there's nothing to say that communities wouldn't be able to maintain an acceptable quality of life, provided they plan properly and willingly shift away from a debt- and fossil-fuel based economy to one based on sustainability and resilience. The Transition model seeks to facilitate this shift, and to help people join together and envision the way to a positive and fulfilling future. We welcome all who would participate in this great turning, and we look forward to discovering what we can create together.

To read more, visit Transition US's article on the subject at http://transitionus.org/why-transition/economic-crisis.