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.

Growth and Sustainable Development

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

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Joachim H. Spangenberg, Paris, April 2008Page 12

Growth and Sustainable Development

Joachim H. Spangenberg, Paris, April 2008Page 13

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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 PresidentJoachim.Spangenberg@gmxJoachim.Spangenberg@gmx.de.de