Library

Scientific paper • 2014

Green Capitalism: The God that failed, by Richard Smith

Abstract: The article shows, how the oroject of a green capitalism of green technology, green taxes, eco-conscious shopping, profit seeking with environmental goals and the like clerly failed. Maximizing profit and saving the planet are inherently in conflict and cannot be systematically aligned. The possibilities for "dematerializing" production are severely limited. The only way to prevent...

Scientific paper • 2014

Prelude to a Critique of Ecological Economy

By: Helmut Knolle

Ecological Economics, History of economic theory, Recycling, Climate protection, Steady-state economy

Scientific paper • 2014

Old Ideas: Values in Second Hand Markets

By: Frederik Larsen

Abstract: Solutions to the economic and environmental challenges the world is currently facing often introduce novel ideas and new ways forward. In a conceptual take on degrowth this paper presents an ethnographic study of an existing economic system, the second hand market, and argues that understanding how values are created in this market can contribute to a change towards greater...

Scientific paper • 2014

Successful Non-Growing Companies

By: Jana Gebauer, Andrea Liesen, Christian Dietsche

Abstract: Suggested concepts of post-growth economies have so far shed little light on the functioning of business. With this paper, we aim to translate discussions on post-growth economies to the company level and examine ten Successful Non-Growing Companies (SNCs) with regard to their motivations, key performance indicators and strategies. We find that a common feature among these companies...

Scientific paper • 2014

Ecologically Dangerous Patriotism

By: Mark Lindley, Jan Otto Andersson

Abstract: A traditional, persistently mercantilist tendency of nation states has prevented them from cooperating sufficiently on macro-ecological problems of unprecedented urgency in the 21st century. The strength of this tendency is due historically to the fact that nation states, and the kind of patriotism which they engender, emerged together with internationally competitive capitalism. We...

Scientific paper • 2014

Climate-economy feedbacks under growth, low-growth, and no-growth scenarios

By: Manuel Linsenmeier, Jobst Heitzig

Abstract: In this work we use conceptual mathematical models to explore the role of feedbacks in the coupled climate-economy system under different economic scenarios. We combine different representations of the climate-economy feedback with three scenarios for the global economy: unconstrained background economic growth with slow decoupling of economic production from carbon emissions,...

Scientific paper • 2014

Wealth, Virtual Wealth, and Capitalism

By: Gabriel Lombard

Abstract: Modern economists have accustomed us to put different things under the words wealth. Some authors of the past tackled more thoroughly the question of the nature of wealth and the correlated question of the role of money. We present three prominent examples of different periods but of a common spirit: the Physiocrat François Quesnay, in 18th. century France, the art-critic John Ruskin...

Scientific paper • 2014

THE 5-HOUR WEEK

By: Jürgen Manneck

Abstract: Why is global capitalism incapable of providing the millions of unemployed with work? From a social perspective, enormous wealth is simply running through our fingers, since many people are forced into unemployment by the mechanisms of capitalism. In 1995 a conference of 500 top managers, politicians and economists came to the conclusion that at the start of the 21st centruy only...

Scientific paper • 2014

ADVANCED DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: DIALECTICAL INTERRELATION IN POLITICAL ECONOMY’S CONTEXT

By: Oleksandra Moskalenko

advanced economic development, sustainable development, concept, strategy, self-organization, dialectics

Scientific paper • 2014

Financialisation and the ambivalence of capitalist growth

By: Julian Müller

Abstract: This 2013 paper – an updated version of which I would like to present at the conference – examines the ambivalence of capitalist growth and accumulation, that is, the simultaneous combination of dynamic and restrictive tendencies. At the most abstract level, this ambivalence is related to the existence of three different forms or circuits of capital. At a more concrete level, the...

Scientific paper • 2014

Availability Cascades & the Sharing Economy – A Critical Outlook at Collaborative Consumption

By: Sarah Netter

Abstract: In search of a new concept that will provide answers to as to how modern societies should not only make sense but also resolve the social and environmental problems linked with our modes of production and consumption, collaborative consumption and the sharing economy are increasingly attracting attention. This conceptual paper attempts to explain the emergent focus on the sharing...

Scientific paper • 2014

Degrowth and Unemployment: The Implications of Okun's Law

By: Daniel O'Neill

Unemployment, Okun's law, degrowth, steady-state economy, labour productivity

Scientific paper • 2014

Degrowth, Eco-socialism and Communitarian Organization

By: Enrique Ortega

Abstract: It seems necessary and urgent to establish a research net to integrate collaborative efforts between scientists concerned with degrowth and social and ecological recovery. We must develop a new Economic Science for critical analysis of global, macro-regional, national and micro-regional systems able to combine traditional parameters with new parameters needed to interpret new factors...

Scientific paper • 2014

Microcapitalism- the end of compulsory growth (revised final version)

By: Walter Oswalt

Abstract: Inequality by Semi-Liberalism . Power-Equality by Radical Liberalism -Any step towards egalitarian power distribution will reduce the pressure for economic growth. Microcapitalism maximizes individual freedom and minimizes concentration of economic power and abolishes the compulsion to economic growth. This proposal for an egalitarian market economy without growth compulsion is one...

Scientific paper • 2014

Potentials of the degrowth debate for socio-ecological transformation

By: Panos Petridis

Abstract: As the concept of socio-ecological transformation is increasingly gaining momentum in both academic research and policy circles, contributions from the degrowth debate come very timely. This paper analyses the recent developments in the degrowth literature, highlighting its visions as regards transformation, by presenting its ontological assumptions, actors and strategies, as well as...

Scientific paper • 2014

The present day monetary and financial systems: What´s wrong and what must be changed for a post-growth economy

By: Helge Peukert

Abstract: A basic question will be which elements and factors of the present-day financial and monetary sectors are drivers for economic growth and in how far they must and could be changed in favor of a degrowth economy and which elements of the present system might be preserved. I will present basic facts, structural relationships, institutional details and recent developments and formulate...

Scientific paper • 2014

The Knowledge Economy: Key to Sustainable Development?

By: Lukáš Režný, James Buchanan White

Knowledge economy, Sustainability, Economic growth, Nonrenewable natural resources consumption, Peak oil

Scientific paper • 2014

Financial Crisis and degrowth. The problems of financing public economies, taking care of the commons, local currencies

By: Maurizio Ruzzene

Abstract: The current financial crises involve economic growth and its monetary institutions from many points of view, requiring widespread institutional changes. This paper will mainly focus on the structural problems that arise when financing Public Economies and Care Activities (PE&CA) in the tertiary age, of post growth or Actual de-growth. For many reasons PE&CA cannot...

Scientific paper • 2014

Ecological macroeconomics: a critical review

By: Beatriz Saes, Ademar Romeiro

Abstract: Ecological economics recognizes the physical limits to economic growth, generating a paradigmatic criticism of mainstream economics. However, a macroeconomics corresponding to this vision hasn’t been consolidated. This paper describes the most relevant ecological macroeconomics alternatives; identify their bases in economic approaches and the main policies and measures suggestions. We...

Scientific paper • 2014

Introducing Permaculture to Economic Ecosystems - the Integrative Analysis Method

By: Michael Schlauch

Abstract: This paper explores new ways of applying ecological knowledge to solve economic problems in a manner that suits the complexity of society and environmental challenges. This is done by developing the integrative analysis method. The integrative analysis uses systems ecology in order to characterize economic systems with their energetic properties and model them as ecosystems. This...