Growth and Sustainable Development
Joachim H. Spangenberg, Paris, April 2008Page 1
Measures for collective Measures for collective reduction of material reduction of material
acquisition capacities of acquisition capacities of affluent countriesaffluent countries
Dr. Joachim H. SpangenbergVice Chairman, SERI Sustainable Europe Research Institute, Cologne
Professeur invite, C3ED, Université Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines
Presentation at the Degrowth Conference Presentation at the Degrowth Conference Paris, 18-19 April 2008Paris, 18-19 April 2008
Growth and Sustainable Development
Joachim H. Spangenberg, Paris, April 2008Page 2
Growing towards the limits of the Growing towards the limits of the planetplanet
Growth and Sustainable Development
Joachim H. Spangenberg, Paris, April 2008Page 3
Material throughput: resources to Material throughput: resources to wastewaste
Growth and Sustainable Development
Joachim H. Spangenberg, Paris, April 2008Page 4
Greater efficiency in resourceGreater efficiency in resource useuse Eco-Efficiency =
Consumer satisfactionConsumer satisfaction X X Services consumedServices consumed X X
Services consumed Services generatedServices consumed Services generated
Services generatedServices generated X X Physical input Physical input = =
Physical inputPhysical input Resources activatedResources activated
Satisfaction efficiency x supply efficiency x production efficiency x provision efficiency
Growth and Sustainable Development
Joachim H. Spangenberg, Paris, April 2008Page 5
strategies for extending product:user relationships
sharingproducts
creating personalnarratives
increasingsensorialvariety
retention ofnarrative &
aesthetic appeal
co-designers&
co-producers
value formoney
extendeddurability
making socialconnections
performance labels
tax relief for extended life
shift from products to services (PSS) or
shared products
reliable, upgradable, maintainable
high quality, good design
ageing with dignity
use-personalisation
personalisation
customisation
overall aesthetic
cultural semiotics – status, identity
producer/co-producer of narrative
producer/co-producer of product
memory
Collated from: Mugge, Ruth; Jan P L Schoormans and Hendrik N J Schifferstein (2005); Cooper, Tim (2005); Chapman, Jonathan (2005)
Growth and Sustainable Development
Joachim H. Spangenberg, Paris, April 2008Page 6
Re-focusing beyond the object
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Joachim H. Spangenberg, Paris, April 2008Page 7
Thought experiment 1: Thought experiment 1: capping physical growthcapping physical growth
Assumption: introducing a capping on resource use
Results Results •No win-win situations due to rebound
•Competition and innovation are directed
towards increasing resource productivity.
•Although resource productivity is an upper limit to
economic growth, due to the high untapped
potentials no severe restrictions emerge.
Growth and Sustainable Development
Joachim H. Spangenberg, Paris, April 2008Page 8
Thought experiment 2: Thought experiment 2: capping economic growthcapping economic growth
Assumption: introducing a capping on economic growthResultsResults
•Competition and innovation are directed towards increasing resource
productivity.
•Restrictions for lenders, difficulties for start-ups.
•Fierce business competition as the economy becomes a zero sum game.
Growth and Sustainable Development
Joachim H. Spangenberg, Paris, April 2008Page 9
Thought experiment 2 Thought experiment 2 cont.cont.
Assumption: introducing a capping on economic growthResultsResults
• Distribution conflicts between corporations and their staff
• Salary increases limited to labour productivity growth,
• reduced working hours to safeguard employment.
•Limited room to increase funding for health and social security aside from tax increases.
Growth and Sustainable Development
Joachim H. Spangenberg, Paris, April 2008Page 10
Distribution and welfareAssumption: redistribution of Assumption: redistribution of
wealth, top-downwealth, top-down
Reason: no hopes for gains from growth fuel distributional justice demands.
Result: No loss of innovation drive, but resistance from those who have to give. Total welfare increasing.
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Joachim H. Spangenberg, Paris, April 2008Page 11
Dematerialisation and Dematerialisation and growthgrowth
a
G D P
E S u s e d ( 1 )
E S u s e d ( 2 )
E S a v a i l a b l e
E S u s e d ( 3 )
t i m e
E S G D P
2075205020101990
Growth and Sustainable Development
Joachim H. Spangenberg, Paris, April 2008Page 14
Thank you for your attention.Thank you for your attention.For further information and to download publications you
are invited to visit the Sustainable Europe Research Institute at:
www.seri.de
Dr. Joachim H. SpangenbergDr. Joachim H. SpangenbergSERI Vice PresidentSERI Vice [email protected]@gmx.de.de