Concepts for Sustainable Economies: Green Growth, Degrowth or Something in Between?
Content:
The climate crisis, biodiversity loss and other environmental problems call for radical changes of the economic system. The concepts Green Growth, Post-Growth and Degrowth deliver strategies to reconcile environmental sustainability with high human well-being.
A central difference between these concepts is their stand on economic growth. While some argue that growth is possible or even necessary for environmental sustainability, others argue for an end of economic growth to save the environment.
This course consists of two parts in the form of two block seminars. In the first block, students learn about the foundations underlying debates on concepts for sustainable economies. This includes in particular insights from environmental and ecological economics, such as the definition of sustainability, thermodynamics, limits to growth and the relation between energy and growth. This block also entails getting to know the different concepts of sustainable economies: green growth, post-growth, steady state, degrowth, care economies, digital economies, etc.
The second block goes into detail in these concepts. Groups of students (appr. four students per group) prepare an in-depth presentation on the named concepts. The course ends with a discussion on the question, which concepts of sustainable economies we as a society should pursue.
Timeline:
- 20.10.21: 2.15-3.45pm: A meeting (90 minutes) that lays out the structure of the course and distributes topics for the seminar papers and the presentation.
- 20.11.-21.11. 9am-5pm: The first block.
- 15.1.-16.1. 9am-5pm: The second block.
Examination:
Examination will consist of two parts. A group seminar paper and a group presentation.