When it was first published, Steady-State Economics caused a sensation because of Daly's radical view that enough is best. Today, his ideas are recognized as the key to sustainable development, and Steady-State Economics is universally acknowledged as a leading book on the economics of sustainability.

“Steady-State Economics was first published in 1977 and then again in 1991. These were times that required a fundamental re-evaluation of what economics is concerned with as a profession, and Steady-State Economics is one of the books that has offered a reconceptualisation of the foundations of economics in a way that is both rigorous and realistic. I think going forward, even if the steady-state model Daly posits isn’t the approach the global economy takes, it is still worth reading for its iconclasm and the emphasis it puts on root-and-branch reform of economics as a discipline.”
— William Kherbek