“We should be able to argue that the clean energy future should be fucking awesome.” As the 48th parliament session looms in Canberra, one book is making waves among progressive MPs: Abundance by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson. This sentiment, expressed by Klein, a journalist with The New York Times, during a March interview, encapsulates the book’s enthusiastic reception.
The book, subtitled How We Build a Better Future, has become a sensation among progressives worldwide. Klein and Thompson distill their message into a simple idea: “To have the future we want, we need to build and invent more of what we need.” This vision resonates with those seeking a more effective progressive movement, aiming to address essential needs such as affordable housing, childcare, infrastructure, and clean energy.
The Australian Context
In Australia, the construction sector faces challenges. Research from the Productivity Commission reveals that the sector is building fewer homes per hour worked than in the 1990s, despite an increase of over 700,000 home-building jobs. The blame is placed on excessive regulations and compliance, which stifle innovation and entangle developers in red tape.
Meanwhile, Deborah Cobb-Clark, an economics professor at the University of Sydney, highlighted survey data showing that 40% of young Australians doubt they will have a comfortable place to live within the next year. This pessimism extends beyond housing. In 2022, 72% of Australians believed that children born then would not surpass their parents’ achievements, marking a 14 percentage point increase from the previous year—the largest rise globally.
“There’s a lot of pessimism, and a lot of angst, and a lot of concern among young Australians about their place in Australian society,” Cobb-Clark said. “For many outcomes, it’s perceptions of inequality that are more important than real inequality.”
Labor’s Vision and Political Implications
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, envisions a cleaner, greener, and more dynamic Australian economy, built on future industries. He acknowledges a significant role for government in this transformation, endorsing Abundance as a “ripper” and noting its popularity among Labor colleagues.
Andrew Leigh, an assistant minister in the treasury portfolio, is a proponent of this vision, having titled a speech “The Abundance Agenda.” Danielle Wood, chair of the Productivity Commission, concurs, emphasizing the need for Australia to regain a “growth mindset.”
In the US, where former President Trump is reversing major clean energy spending bills, Klein and Thompson advocate for a new political order to replace the waning neoliberalism of the 2010s. They argue that government legitimacy hinges on delivering tangible results for citizens.
The collapse in Americans’ trust in government, from 77% in 1964 to just 22% in 2024, reflects politicians’ inability to effectively address critical issues.
The Green Dilemma
Australia’s political landscape differs from the US, with less polarization and a less litigious system. However, pursuing an abundance agenda presents challenges, necessitating difficult debates within the left, particularly among environmental groups, unions, and politicians.
The bipartisan divide on green energy in Australia is stark. Edelman’s global trust barometer for 2024 found that 28% of Australians on the right reject green energy technology, compared to just 7% on the left.
Klein and Thompson note that in the US, the government has undertaken the task of decarbonization, aiming to transform America’s infrastructure. Yet, existing laws and agencies often hinder rather than facilitate green construction. Similar challenges exist in Australia, where opposition to large-scale green projects is mounting among local communities and environmental groups.
Bob Brown, a prominent environmentalist, opposed a major wind farm project on Tasmania’s Robbins Island in 2019, likening it to the thwarted plan to dam the Franklin River in the 1980s—a landmark victory for the green movement. Nearly six years later, the renewable energy project remains stalled, with a decision delayed until after the May election.
“Society has run out of time to save everything we want to save, and to mull things over for years,” Klein and Thompson argue, highlighting the need for decisive action.
A Liberalism That Builds
Politicians face numerous questions, even those committed to the abundance agenda. The authors cite overregulation as a barrier to progress, pointing to President Biden’s $39 billion program to subsidize semiconductor manufacturers, which includes requirements beyond the core project goals.
Similarly, Australia’s National Interest Framework assesses proposals under Labor’s Future Made in Australia program, emphasizing community benefits and diverse workforces. Klein and Thompson question whether such goals should be prioritized within specific projects, urging a focus on trade-offs.
Abundance offers a manifesto for American Democrats and a lens for more effective progressive governance. Andrew Leigh calls it “progressive productivity.”
Will the future be “fucking awesome”? The stories we tell ourselves matter, and a shift in mindset towards winning the future could be pivotal. However, achieving this vision will require more than rhetoric—it demands action and commitment.
