Library

Scientific paper • 2014

The Iron Cage of the Elites: Time Consuming Efforts to Stay on Top

Abstract: From a traditional leftist perspective centered on class-struggle, things are easy: The capitalist economy produces winners and losers. The rich, the winners, gain wealth, time and freedom, while the losers have to sell their time and their autonomy and remain poor at that. With respect to time, the difference is portrayed as the difference between those who can command over their...

Scientific paper • 2014

THE LAW OF TIME AND LIVE IN A NEW EARTH: DECONSTRUCTING THE RULE OF LAW

By: Caroline Ruschel

Rule of Law; Law of Time; Transdisciplinarity; Planetary Citizenship

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

Alternative currencies and de-growth: average value of labour time as basis for enhancement of interest-free credit systems

By: Maurizio Ruzzene

Abstract: This presentation considers problems and benefits that can follow from linking time currencies to an average social value of labour time. The link to an average social value of labour time (i.e. applying an average hourly wage to a standard time unit) can greatly ex-tend the application of time-based currencies. It can significantly enhance their interest-free long-term credit...

Scientific paper • 2014

Participation and economic growth in cooperatives: Empirical explorations of a (supposedly) well-known relationship

By: Irma Rybnikova, Ronald Hartz

Abstract: In the present paper we focus on the question to what extent co-operatives can be regarded as participatory forms of organization – as they are often represented – despite the growth-effects. For this, we draw on conceptual as well as empirical material. Whereas the previous research raises serious doubts concerning the role model of cooperatives as participatory firms, the results of...

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

The End of 'Education': Learning from Home Education

By: Leslie Safran

Abstract: Many families turn to home education neighbourhood groups for support, resources and guidance. This paper will briefly outline the context of home education in the UK and US, describe three different types of home education neighbourhood group as communities of practice (Wenger, 1998), and examine how the members of these communities learn through participation in such groups. It will...

Scientific paper • 2014

Current Contradiction between sustainable development and degrowth

By: Hermilo Salas

Abstract: If the basic contradiction is in current economic models, what is the right path to solve it and thus avoid the crisis of the environment and of life itself? It is evident that our current lifestyles are part of economic models that are unsustainable. How can we avoid that catastrophic growth? The basis of the proposal presented here is in showing the contradictions of growth to find...

Scientific paper • 2014

Sleep and stillness in a mobile economy

By: Tarja Salmela

Sleep, stillness, ethical and moral agency, critical re-reading, growth-necessity

Scientific paper • 2014

Societal Relations with Nature and Mental Infrastructures - A critical glance from Buen Vivir and Theravāda-Buddhism

By: Christoph Maria Sanders

Mental infrastructures; Societal relations with nature; Nature-culture-dualism; Buen Vivir; Theravāda-Buddhism

Scientific paper • 2014

Towards a Theory of Psychological Rebound Effects

By: Tilman Santarius

Abstract: Research on rebound effects at the consumer level until today has been almost exclusively limited to the realm of economic sciences. Accordingly explanations of how rebound effects arise are restricted to economic theories, namely to income and substitution effects. This article analyzes rebound effects through the lenses of various social and behavioral science theories. The article...

Scientific paper • 2014

Ecological Basic Income – an Acceleration Brake

By: Ulrich Schachtschneider

Abstract: An ecological basic income is one financed through eco-taxes. This principle could both combine the necessary rise in costs of environmental goods with redistribution of income and link sufficiency with different lifestyle norms. Moreover, it can help to switch off the acceleration motors which are responsible for the ongoing social acceleration in modern societies, according to the...

Scientific paper • 2014

Going beyond efficiency: including altruistic motives in behavioral models for sustainability transitions to address suffiency

By: Niko Schäpke, Felix Rauschmayer

Abstract: Sustainability transitions require altered individual behaviors. Policies aiming to make people change their consumption behavior are designed according to efficiency, consistency, and sufficiency principles. Taking into account shortcomings of the first two principles, this paper specifically addresses the sufficiency principle. Sufficiency policies are not very popular due to the...

Scientific paper • 2014

Resource efficiency, concepts and indicators

By: Philipp Schepelmann

Abstract:Economic growth was the basis for the social reconciliation between capital owners and the working class. In industrialized countries it was coupled with a growth of material flows of geological proportions. It is quite remarkable that within the framework of the growth-oriented Europe 2020 Strategy for a smart, sustainable and inclusive economy the European Commission has launched a...

Scientific paper • 2014

The right to meaningful work as key component of a new European social contract in the light of the socio-ecological transition

By: Judith Schicklinski

new social contract / decommodification of work / meaningful work / cities in transition / active citizenship

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...

Scientific paper • 2014

‘Expand or die’. The historical foundations of the economic growth paradigm

By: Matthias Schmelzer

Abstract: ‘Economic growth’ is widely regarded as a key goal of economic policy, not only across the political spectrum but also in all countries. How did the pursuit of growth become the essential goal of policy-making and a key priority taken for granted among social scientists, politicians, and the general public? This contribution to the special session "Degrowth and History" takes up this...

Scientific paper • 2014

Downshifting – rejecting the growth imperative or internalizing the neoliberal order?

By: Tiina Schmidt, Kristoffer Wilén

Downshifting, Class, Responsible Careers, Meaningful Work, Degrowth

Scientific paper • 2014

Ethical reasons for animal liberation

By: Friederike Schmitz

Abstract: Every year, humans kill 66 billion nonhuman land animals and more than a trillion aquatic individuals for the purpose of consumption. Countless other nonhuman animals are tortured in laboratories or exploited for human clothing, leisure, sports, or work. The immense suffering of animals contrasts with a general neglect of the issue in left and green movements, and theory. In this...

Scientific paper • 2014

Open Localism

By: Filka Sekulova, Francois Schneider

Abstract: The so-called “open-growth-society”, related to globalisation, has only been open for a few: the rich ones, and for the products from multinationals. Criticizing globalisation, worse promoting degrowth, leads very quickly to accusations of being reactionary. In practice now growth and globalisation in this finite world leads to increasing inequality and therefore – frustration,...