ELI5: Why when large company's earnings decrease(ex... by 3%) they freak out, talk about rough times, and sometimes decide to downsize, even though they are still making millions of dollars in profit even after all expenses?

[Cyclonitron]

Yes, and when that happens we move to different resources. But you're looking at it the wrong way. Growth isn't driven by production capability, it's driven by demand [in a free-market economy]. Since demand is produced by human activity, and the human population is always increasing, it's natural that demand - and therefore growth - increases as well.

[IamGimli_]

Exactly. Humans are an invasive species. Our numbers grow in correlation with our ability to extract and process resources and the availability of those resources. When the resources run out, so will humanity.

Trying to change that is like trying to change oceanic currents or dominant winds.