Economy

Video Special

Farewell to the growth society

January 31, 2013 - During economic downturns, the debate about the limits of growth becomes increasingly important. The "décroissance" movement, which originated in France, proposes a departure from the model of a society based on a perpetually growing economy. Advocates of "decroissance" argue against growth in favour of “having less to live better” and propose an economic degrowth. Karin de Miguel Wessendorf more»

Higher Environmental Taxes as Solution to the Economic and Financial Crisis

- December 11, 2012 - The EU countries affected by the crisis find themselves in a dilemma. They have to ensure economic growth and employment while, at the same time, they need to reduce costs and save money through higher taxes. A new survey indicates: environmental taxes are the most effective tool in this context – and simultaneously conserve resources.
Kai Schlegelmilch more»

The Crisis as Opportunity for Greater Sustainability and Distributive Justice

- December 10, 2012 - The debt and financial crisis in Europe has accentuated three major areas in need of reform: national debt, the stability of the financial system, and the unbalanced distribution of incomes and wealth. There are instruments of reform that could work effectively for all three areas. Simon Wolf more»

Germany's role in the crisis

- September 28, 2012 - Germany appears to have come into its leadership role in the crisis involuntarily. Nevertheless, it is time that Germany also acknowledges that the crisis can only be overcome together with solidarity and stability and a sustainable future foundation for the European Union. Viola von Cramon more»

Why the Eurozone Needs Radical Economic Adjustment – and the Case for Break-Up

- September 25, 2012 - Some sort of fiscal and political union is feasible. Yet does it make sense for Germany to be in such a union? Isn't is about time that German consumers had their day in the sun? That, amongst other things, is what a euro break-up would deliver. Roger Bootle more»

The Political Crisis: A Better Europe Starts at Home

- July 20, 2012 - As market reforms and budget consolidation meet increasing political constraints, it is perhaps not surprising that the call for “more Europe” has become louder. While such eagerness for the European project should be welcomed, in fact it is not genuine but rather motivated by the short-term interests of political classes. Rainer Emschermann more»

Four Years after the World Food Price Crisis: The Governance of World Food Security

- October 14, 2011 - The 2007–2008 world food price crisis caused political and economical instability and social unrest in both poor and developed nations. This was only the latest example for a functioning food system being an indispensable pillar of a stable economy and a society capable of reproducing itself. A new study outlines steps how the intergovernmental Committee on World Food Security could be expanded towards a politically relevant international steering committee. Nora McKeon more»

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Ralf Fücks, Vorstand der Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung

Growth of Limits

- May 9, 2011 - On the road to ecological modernity, prosperity is possible without having to destroy the basis of our livelihood. Ralf Fücks more»

Conference

International Commons Conference: Constructing a Commons-Based Policy Platform

- The International Commons Conference from October 31st to November 2nd will bring together about 150 leading figures in commons-based studies and activism for a multidisciplinary, international conference. more»

Publication

Can Europe rise to the Challenge? EU Policy Responses to the Global Crisis

- 19. Oktober 2010 - The effect that the economic and financial crisis has had on the European Union and its policies is the central theme of this publication. The authors have looked at European policies from different angles. They have analysed and evaluated how the Union has dealt with the different aspects of the crisis: which measures have been successful, which have failed and what still needs to be tackled. mehr»

The American Dream in 2010

- 21. Oktober 2010 - The hope of improving one’s status, pulling oneself up by one’s bootstraps, resonates deeply among all strata of the US population. But does that dream still exist in the Obama era? By Belinda Cooper mehr»

Beyond State Capitalism: The Commons Economy in our Lifetimes

- October 29, 2010 - In considering the essential problem of how to produce and distribute material wealth, virtually all of the great economists in Western history have ignored the signiﬁcance of the commons - the shared resources of nature and society that people inherit, create and utilize. By James Bernard Quilligan more»

The new triarchy: the commons, enterprise, the state

- 29. Oktober 2010 - It is customary to divide society into three sectors, and what we want to show is how the new peer to peer dynamic unleashed by networked infrastructures, changes the inter-relationship between these three sectors. mehr»

Publication

The Commons - Prosperity by Sharing

- October 29, 2010 - This report attempts to explore the potential of the commons if they are used wisely and sustainably. It delves into the reasons why so many commons are threatened and examines the rules that can help protect the commons from ruin. This article provides also a french version of the report. By Silke Helfrich, Rainer Kuhlen, Wolfgang Sachs, Christian Siefkes more»

Speech

Barbara Unmüßig: Opening Speech of the International Commons Conference

- November 1, 2010 - Protecting and reclaiming the commons could be more than just a theoretical experiment – it could provide a catalyst for transition to a post-fossil era in which people actively help shape their lives and the environment they live in – as commoners through commoning. more»

The G20 & Food Security – missing the big picture?

- October 11, 2010 - The outbreak of the financial crisis in 2008 has led to a remarkable rebirth of the Group of 20, turning the club into the self-declared premier forum for global economic coordination. At the same time, the world was shocked by a global food crisis which had tremendous consequences in developing countries, where millions were no longer able to buy their daily food. more»

Lehman Brothers is dead – Long Live Lehman Brothers!

- September 21, 2010 - The world has been rocked by the most major financial and economic crisis in recent history. This exposed several aspects of financial system dysfunction. These not only increased the instability of the financial markets but also impeded their normal functioning as tools to allocate economic resources efficiently throughout the real economy. A lecture held by Sony Kapoor more»

The Kimberley Process and the Chiadzwa Diamonds in Zimbabwe: Challenges and Effectiveness

- July 19, 2010 - Amidst allegations of rampant human rights abuses at the Chiadzwa diamond fields and reports of diamond smuggling the KPCS has failed to take decisive action. Claude Kabemba sheds light on the reasons for the KPCS’ inability to act and concludes that a failure in Zimbabwe will send a negative signal about the relevance of the KPCS and capacity for self-regulation of the diamond industry as a whole. By Claude Kabemba more»

Can Economic Growth and Climate Protection be Reconciled?

- May 17, 2010 - We have almost used up our emissions budget. Should we continue to emit at the current rate, our budget will be used up within ten years. Thus, we have to ask ourselves: Is continuous growth the right approach? Can we afford more economic growth? Is our present economic system able to increase and sustain wealth on a worldwide scale? The Böll.Thema essay by Claudia Kemfert tries to give answers to these questions. more»

Magazine

Green New Deal

- July 17, 2009 - The monstrous sums governments spend to boost the economy must be used to create a sustainable economy and society. This appeal is not just directed at governments and parliaments. We need a great social awakening in order to reform capitalism and improve the world. more»

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Publication Series Ecology, Volume 3

Toward a Transatlantic Green New Deal

- July 20, 2009 - The grave financial and economic crisis that broke into full view in the fall of 2008 has dominated headlines and politics. The imagery of a Green New Deal is important in that it suggests an ambitious approach predicated on the need for strong government action and a decisive break with old policies. more»

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Study

Foreign Direct Investment in the Agricultural Sector in Ethiopia

- This study has given a first regional overview of the development of Global Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows over the last decade in Ethiopia. The high investments in the agricultural sector are basically necessary for a sustainable development but only if a comprehensive policy framework is in place. A discussion paper by Lucie Weissleder. more»

Photo: ShellyS (photo is under the creative commons licence Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike 2.0 Generic)

Research Project

From Money to Metals

- Despite the current financial "crisis" investors are pouring money into mining companies and projects, with potentially negative consequences for thousands of communities around the world. Launched in 2008, and now available as a regularly-updated data base, "From Money to Metals" is a vital resource to discover who is funding what, and where, in one of the most potentially destructive of all global industries. By Nostromo Research, 2009. more»

A Change in the Times - What is Past and What is Prologue

- July 20, 2009 - In contrast to all previous world economic shocks, in the current situation economic and environmental crises collide. If we are wise, we will turn these crises into a great social awakening - a transformation of our societies towards sustainability and fairness. By Ralf Fücks more»

The Case for a Green Economy that Works for All

- November 18, 2009 - Analyses of the crisis are likely to show that the response redistributed wealth upward. The social, economical and ecological challenges are enormous and demand a broader analysis and a different kind of public debate that reaches beyond the classical economic thinking. By Klaus Linsenmeier more»

From Partnership to Leadership: Transatlantic Solutions for a Low Carbon Economy - Opening Remarks

- October 15, 2009 - Europe should recognize the U.S. coming on board finally with relatively ambitious 2020 targets (compared to the status quo), but has to push for further acceleration on efforts of the U.S. Opening remarks by Ralf Fücks more»

Green Stripes on the Horizon

- July 20, 2009 - The global concept of a Green New Deal is a direct reaction to the current economic and unemployment crisis. If the Green New Deal is introduced the right way, it could lead to transformation and create the proper conditions for a sustainable green economy of the 21st century. By Achim Steiner more»

China’s Economic Stimulus Programme – And What We Know About It

- July 20, 2009 - China is believed to be better prepared for the consequences of the financial crisis than all other emerging countries. But how deeply has China’s economy really been affected by the crisis, and what measures are being taken by its government? By Barbara Unmüßig more»

Asia: Can We Reverse Global Climate Change?

- May 19, 2009 - Calling on Asia to boost its consumption to pull the rest of the world out of the financial crisis is wrongheaded and could lead to an environmental disaster. In the end the West’s influence on the world’s economy will dissipate as the future of capitalism and the environment will center on decisions made in Asia. By Chandran Nair more»

“Reform the IMF and World Bank!”

- April 3, 2009 - Understandably, the G-20 in London will mainly focus on stabilising the global financial markets. But they must also not pass up the opportunity to steer the IMF and the World Bank on a green course to ensuring that public funds help overcome multiple crises and assist the poor and poorest populations. By Korinna Horta and Barbara Unmüßig more»

Towards a Green New Deal

- March 17, 2009 - The debate on a transatlantic Green New Deal takes place just in time. The economic tsunami which, today, is devastating the world economy marks the end of an old model for economic growth and the beginning of a new era, a historical turn to sustainable growth: Green is the new red, white, and blue. By Ralf Fücks more»

Is a Successful Ecological Turnaround of Capitalism Possible?

- October 8, 2008 - The ecological transformation of the market economy can not be achieved with a solely top-down approach. To deliver it has to be counter-balanced by a bottom-up ecological dynamic, one that includes eco-farmers and high-tech companies, inventors and investors, environmental organisations and enlightened consumers. By Ralf Fücks and Kristina Steenbock more»

Publication Series Writings on Democracy, Volume 4

Transnational Corporations on Trial

- October 8, 2008 - The study analyses existing legal means of holding European transnational companies liable for extraterritorial human rights violations. The authors examine four representative legal cases against European companies in Latin America that revolve around problems typical in the region. more»

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Dossier

Log, Stock and Barrel - Financial Institutions in the Resource Sector

- Financial institutions play a major role in the exploitation and trade of natural resources. Over the years activists and organisations worldwide have used a variety of strategies to address these issues. The objective of the dossier Log, Stock and Barrel - Financial Institutions in the Resource Sector is to collect information on financial institutions, their role in the resource sector, and put together mechanisms, tools and strategies to address policy issues.

Eye on Thailand: The Global Financial Crisis

- February 19, 2009 - When emerging Asia’s boom turned to bust in 1997, Thailand was famously on the vanguard of the regional collapse. Now with the United States and Europe repeating several of those same mistakes - albeit on a larger and more expensive scale – Thailand’s post-1997 crisis experience is back in the spotlight. By Shawn W Crispin more»

The Global Financial Crisis and Emerging Economies: Role Model South Africa

- November 10, 2008 - South Africa’s National Credit Act has attracted the attention of policymakers worldwide who are keen to prevent reckless lending practices. The NCR is already assisting neighbouring Namibia to develop similar legislation. By David Marrs more»

Western Balkan Transition Countries Face Their First Recession

- February 19, 2009 - Who could have predicted that the subprime crisis, which exploded in mid-2007 in the U.S., would bring a recession to the Western Balkans in 2009? Especially since we knew that the financial sectors in the Balkan economies did not deal at all with toxic assets – those derivatives connected to subprime mortgages. By Dr Igor Matutinović more»

Grand Plans, Money and Falls – Seeking Values and Answers in the Financial Crisis

- January 27, 2009 - The Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU comes at a watershed period. Europe and the world are being shaken by a global crisis. Many people agree, however, that the watershed concerns more than just the economic crisis. By Petr Lebeda more»

Make a Virtue of Necessity

- December 29, 2008 - What we need is the allotment of finance to the overdue restructuring of economy and society. We must use the crisis for making our educational system fairer and more efficient and for creating the foundations for a green industrial revolution. By Ralf Fücks more»

Dealing with the Financial and Climate Crises

- November 14, 2008 - Policymakers must make sure that the restructuring of the financial system lays the ground for an ecological transformation. This, in turn, will stimulate the economy. To secure its international competitiveness Europe needs to retain its leadership in energy efficiency and green collar industries. By Roderick Kefferpütz more»

Book

Peter Barnes: Capitalism 3.0 - A Guide to Reclaiming the Commons

- Our current version of capitalism - the corporate, globalised version 2.0 - is rapidly squandering our shared inheritances. Peter Barnes offers a solution: Protect the commons by giving it property rights and strong institutional managers.

Global Issue Paper

Utility Privatisation and the Poor: Nigeria in Focus

- 15. Mai 2008 - Nigeria’s privatisation programme covers several sectors, including banking and finance, manufacturing, and tourism. Given the criticisms leveled at privatisation programmes in other sectors, it appears timely to evaluate the proposals for the privatisation of the utility sector. mehr»

Publication

Perspectives: Political Analysis and Commentary from Africa

- Perspectives is a publication series of the Africa offices of the Heinrich Böll Stiftung. With this series, we intend to let experts from Africa express their views about current political issues in their region.

18.2.	"Allein unter Deutschen" - Lesung und Gespräch mit Tuvia Tenenbom
21.2.	„A Lot Like You“ - Filmabend und Diskussion - Filmreihe “Her Stories - Filmmakers with African Roots”
28.2.	Green Lecture mit Rob Hopkins: Transition – Modell für eine zukunftsfähige Lebensweise? - Internationale Vortragsreihe zu Zukunftsfähigkeit, nachhaltiger Entwicklung und Ressourcengerechtigkeit Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, Berlin
6.3.	Symposium: Im Bann der sinnlichen Natur - Wege in eine lebensfördernde Gesellschaft
14.3.	„The Place in Between“ - Filmabend mit Diskussion - Filmreihe “Her Stories - Filmmakers with African Roots”
22.- 24.3.	Energize, Polarize, Mobilize! Human Rights, Participation, Activism, Internet. - International Workshop Conference Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, Berlin
9./10. 4.	Energiewende – Think European! - International Conference Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, Berlin
17.5.	„Footprints of my Other“ - Filmabend und Diskussion - Filmreihe “Her Stories - Filmmakers with African Roots”
13.6.	Kurzfilme von Afro-Europäischen Fimemacherinnen - Filmreihe “Her Stories - Filmmakers with African Roots”
1.- 11.9.	Chicago - Hamburgs Partnerstadt in den USA

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