ECGIC 2024

I I I Economy for The Common Good International Conference

Converging Future-Fit Economic Models: Advancing Just and Sustainable Regions

June 3-5
Leeuwarden, Fryslân, The Netherlands

Days
Hours
Minutes
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Thank you for joining us in Leeuwarden! Have a look at the aftermovie and conference proceedings.

Conference proceedings - (download on click)

Book of Abstracts
Impressions
Papers Day 1
Presentations (LD)
Papers Day 2
Presentations (HD)

We look forward to welcoming you to the third edition of the Economy for the Common Good International Conference, this time in the beautiful Leeuwarden!

During three engaging days, we will the most impactful future-fit economic models, learn from successful sustainable practices and tackle the question: “How can regions leverage a multi-stakeholder perspective to shift from quantitative GDP-led growth towards sustainable growth of their non-monetary ‘area capital’?”
Together, we will develop a manifesto containing concrete steps that can be taken by businesses, governments and civil organizations to future-proof their regional economics, complementing the ideas of the recent Beyond Growth 2023 conference by providing more tangible insights.
Join us in Leeuwarden!
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Program

Day 1 - Science

We will delve into contemporary theory on circular economic models, sustainable management practices, and alternatives to GDP, promoting an active space for the exchange of ideas.

Day 2 - Practice

By incorporating case studies and practical experiences from various fields on the implementation of sustainable business practices, we want to facilitate an environment that encourages best practice sharing.

Day 3 - Convergence

These two aspects can be bridged towards policy formation, where the interaction between theory and practice is translated into policy requirements in practical and lively workshop formats.
Parallel Sessions Download

Roundtable - Convergence of Future-fit Economic Models

Representatives of the future-fit economic models will discuss the models and bring their perspectives on the economy of the future.

As global social and ecological problems are getting more severe, the search for future-fit economic models becomes more relevant. Which models are available already? How holistic, and how practical are they? What are their commonalities, and how could they collaborate and create synergies, and join forces in bringing forward a change in the legal framework of the economy? While economic science is shifting from the neoclassical mainstream towards a more plural combination of heterodox schools, collectively moved forward by organizations like Rethinking Economics or ISIPE, the discussion of new models that could be implemented on the policy level and put into practice is still at its beginnings. ECGIC 2024 wants to contribute to making some of the most holistic and practical „new sustainable economic models“ more visible and engage them in collaborative exchange. As a result, the scientific community should get a more solid base to explore (the combination) of these models on the levels of theory, policy, practice, and public dissemination.

ECGIC 2024 will bring together top representatives of the sustainable economic models to have a panel discussion not seen before. Join us and see the Care Economy, Doughnut Economics, Social and Solidarity Economy, Postgrowth Discourse and the Economy for the Common Good bring their insights to the table and converge them for a sustainable economy.
3rd of June

Roundtable Panelists

Kate Raworth

Kate Raworth is an ecological economist and creator of the Doughnut – a concept that aims to meet the needs of all people within the means of the living planet - and co-founder of Doughnut Economics Action Lab. Her internationally best-selling book Doughnut Economics: seven ways to think like a 21st century economist has been translated into over 20 languages . Kate is a Senior Associate at Oxford University’s Environmental Change Institute and Professor of Practice at Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. Over the past 25 years, Kate’s career has taken her from working with micro-entrepreneurs in the villages of Zanzibar to co-authoring the Human Development Report for UNDP in New York, followed by a decade as Senior Researcher at Oxfam. She is a member of the Club of Rome and currently serves on the World Health Organisation Council on the Economics of Health for All.

Lebohang Liepollo Pheko

Lebohang Liepollo Pheko is the Senior Research Fellow at feminist activist and advocacy think tank „Trade Collective“. She considers herself to be a ‘scholactivist’, and is a public intellectual, scholar and movement builder of over twenty five years standing. She has taught International Trade, Afrikan Feminist Theory, International Development, Feminist Economics, Political Economy, Political Theory and Race and Decolonial studies at universities across the world. Pheko's work is grounded in a race, class and feminist analysis and she is committed to grounding academic research in community struggles & praxis. Pheko is also a global ambassador of the Well Being Economy Alliance, an African Futures Fellow and a committed member of South Feminist Futures. In December 2021 she was appointed as a National Planning Commissioner by the President of South Africa.

Katy Wiese

Katy Wiese is an ecofeminist who works for the European Environmental Bureau as a Policy Manager for Economic Transition and Gender Equality. She is working on economic transition policies, advocating for a feminist economic system centred around care and wellbeing for planet and people. Previously, she has been working for different renewable energy development projects in West and East Africa and as technical consultant for a social impact consulting firm in Berlin, Germany. She has also been investigating gendered impacts of environmental policies in the Global South and Europe, publishing scientific articles on that nexus.

Jason Nardi

Jason is the European general delegate of RIPESS - the Intercontinental Network for the Promotion of Social Solidarity Economy, president of RIES (Italian Solidarity Economy Network) and co-founder of Solidarius Italia. Jason is an active member of the International Council of the World Social Forum and promoter of the World Social Forum on Transformative Economies. He has a background in communication and media (Princeton University and the University of Florence) and is a trainer on ethical and mutualistic finance. Jason currently lives in Florence, where he promotes Community Supported Agriculture projects, territorial cooperation and the Forum Firenze Beni Comuni (Florence Forum of the Commons).

Bas van Bavel ECGIC 2024 Speaker

Bas van Bavel

Bas van Bavel (Breda, 1964) is trained as a historian, specialized in economic and social history and is currently a distinguished University Professor of Utrecht University. Through his research, he aims to understand how societies develop in the long run and explain the striking differences we observe in their developmental paths. Why are some societal arrangements successful - economically, but also in terms of social aspects, resilience to hazards, and ecological sustainability - and others not, and what drives the formation of these arrangements? He uses long-run developments as a way to test hypotheses on these issues.

Paul Schenderling

Paul is an economist, writer and speaker. He advises, writes and speaks on social and ecological issues from an economic perspective. His goal is a happier Netherlands living within the carrying capacity of the earth. His strength is strategic insight and connection. From the overview he sees the big picture and examines what is needed and how we can achieve it. From the connection he communicates a positive vision and creates support for new solutions.

Christian Felber

Christian Felber is a writer, university lecturer and contemporary dancer in Vienna. He is the initiator of the “Economy for the Common Good“ and the “Cooperative for the Common Good“. He is also the author of several bestsellers, including “Change everything. Creating an Economy for the Common Good“ and “Money. The new rules of the game“, which was awarded the getAbstract International Book Award 2014. The “Economy for the Common Good” received the ZEIT-Wissen Award in 2017 and made it 2021 to the SPIEGEL bestseller list.

Keynotes

Christian Felber

Christian Felber is a writer, university lecturer and contemporary dancer in Vienna. He is the initiator of the “Economy for the Common Good“ and the “Cooperative for the Common Good“. He is also the author of several bestsellers, including “Change everything. Creating an Economy for the Common Good“ and “Money. The new rules of the game“, which was awarded the getAbstract International Book Award 2014. The “Economy for the Common Good” received the ZEIT-Wissen Award in 2017 and made it 2021 to the SPIEGEL bestseller list.

Lisa Herzog

Lisa Herzog is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Groningen, Netherlands. She has a background in economic and philosophy, holds a doctorate in political theory from the University of Oxford, and has worked at universities in Germany, the UK, Switzerland and the US. Her research focusses on the intersection of economic, political, and philosophical thought. She has worked on philosophical approaches to markets, economic justice, organizational ethics, and workplace democracy. Her current research focusses on the future of work and democracy, sustainable work, and the question of how to democratize the economic system.

Bas van Bavel ECGIC 2024 Speaker

Bas van Bavel

Bas van Bavel (Breda, 1964) is trained as a historian, specialized in economic and social history and is currently a distinguished University Professor of Utrecht University. Through his research, he aims to understand how societies develop in the long run and explain the striking differences we observe in their developmental paths. Why are some societal arrangements successful - economically, but also in terms of social aspects, resilience to hazards, and ecological sustainability - and others not, and what drives the formation of these arrangements? He uses long-run developments as a way to test hypotheses on these issues.

Matthias Olthaar

Matthias Olthaar, PhD, is working as applied sciences professor at NHL Stenden University. His research is on postgrowth economics, sufficiency-driven business models and circular supply chain management. He is cofounder of the Dutch Postgrowth institute ‘Postgroei Nederland’ and co-authored scientific articles, books, and other publications on this topic. He is columnist for the Frisian newspaper and involved in innovation committees and national policy making. Increasingly scientists advocate limits to economic growth for the world’s most prosperous countries. In his keynote speech Professor Dr. Matthias Olthaar will explain how we can transition towards an economy within the carrying capacity of Earth and human beings whilst maintaining a good life and healthy government finances. Different policy measures will be discussed, including implementation methods and outcomes. In addition he demonstrates that a postgrowth economy may deviate from a focus on quantitative (GDP-led) growth, but yet creates more space and time for qualitative growth.

Cees Buisman

Professor Buisman, a graduate of Wageningen University, joined Paques BV in 1990, specialising in business development and innovation. In 2003, he took up a professorship at Wageningen University with a focus on biological resource recovery technology. He is co-founder and board member of Wetsus, the Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology. Buisman's global contributions include the development of various environmental technologies. He is a fellow of the Netherlands Academy of Engineering and in 2018 authored "Humanity is not a Plaque". His keynote will argue that relying on innovation alone will not keep humanity within safe planetary boundaries. His presentation will explore how we can design a world that respects these planetary boundaries, urging us to introspect and transform. He emphasises that our discussions need to move beyond scientific and systemic jargon to embrace the vital concepts of collaboration and self-improvement. He seeks coherent, safe innovations that promote a just and sustainable world, a world we really want to live in.

Niels Faber

Niels Faber is professor of circular economy at the Hanze University of Applied Sciences and assistant professor circular entrepreneurship at the University of Groningen. His research focuses on organizational aspects of sustainability and circular economy, in particular on sustainable and circular business models, and the ensuing transition and assessment of the progress made towards a circular economy. He is board member of the international conference on New Business Models. He published numerous papers and books. Recently, Niels co-edited the book Organizing for Sustainability (Palgrave-MacMillan) and De Gruyter Handbook of Sustainable Entrepreneurship Research (De Gruyter). In his keynote speech Niels Faber will focus on the necessity for shaping a new perspective on value as precondition to realising a circular economy and sustainable society. He will show now current perceptions of value stand in the way of this transition and sketch the contours for a collective exploration of new directions.

About ECGIC 2024

The conference will address the requirements that sustainable economic models should fulfill, along with a potential non-monetary alternative to GDP for building sustainable regions from the ground up. The requirements are as follows:
  • Environmental aspects; related to the planetary boundaries, the Earth Charter, and the Sustainable Development Goals 12-16.
  • Social aspects; related to the remaining SDGs (except 8.1), the UNSocial Covenant, and recent well-being research. 
  • Democratic aspects, considering new concepts of citizen involvement, direct, participatory, and sovereign democracy. 
These requirements form the ESD framework (Environmental Sustainability | Social Sustainability | Strengthened Democracy). The intention is to solicit contributions in scientific and practical domains (case studies) that consider the ESD framework for sustainable economic models and an alternative to GDP.

Why attend?

A sustainable economy demands us to rethink economic models to fit planetary boundaries and stimulate just conditions across regions. Together we can generate a space that stimulates the exchange of information and best practice on how to achieve this and accelerate this transition.
GDP is a financial tool and is limiting in what it can communicate regarding well-being and fairness. In this conference you will get insights in what other more representative indicators could be applied instead.
This Conference is your chance to meet leading experts in Future-Fit Economic Models and broaden your network by getting to know other actors in this space.
A variety of cases will be demonstrated at this conference, during the organized sessions you will obtain insights into theory and sustainable practices that you may be able to put into effect.
By visiting Leeuwarden, capital of the beautiful province of Fryslân, you will visit the happiest region in one of the happiest countries in the world: the Netherlands. This is true, even though on average the financial prosperity of Fryslân is the lowest in the country. This is better known as the Frisian Paradox. Although socio-economic factors and wellbeing are often positively related, this shows that GDP or income on their own are not suitable benchmarks to determine quality of life. Visit ECGIC 2024 and experience Fryslân yourself!

Ambassadors

Neva Goodwin

Neva Goodwin is a member of the Boston University Global Development Policy Center Alumni Advisory Board and is a Distinguished Fellow with the Boston University Economics in Context Initiative. She is active in a variety of attempts to systematize and institutionalize an economic theory–“contextual economics”– that will have more relevance to contemporary real world concerns than does the dominant economic paradigm. She has edited more than a dozen books and is the lead author of four introductory textbooks: Microeconomics in Context, Macroeconomics in Context, Principles of Economics in Context and Essentials of Economics in Context. Over the past decade, Dr. Goodwin has led the creation of a “social science library” called Frontier Thinking in Sustainable Development and Human Well-Being, which contains nearly 10,000 full bibliographic references, representing seven social sciences.

Christa Schleper

Professor Dr. Christa Schleper is a multi-awarded microbiologist at the University of Vienna, where she is head of the Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology since 2007. Her research in several countries - USA, Norway, Germany and, today, Austria - focuses on archaea, single-cell organisms that belong to the oldest forms of life. Dr. Schleper investigates „why microorganisms—the smallest and oldest living things on the earth—play such a large role in the ecosystem“. Dr. Schleper, a member of Austrian Academy of Sciences since 2017 received the FWF Wittgenstein Award in 2022, Austria’s equivalent to the Nobel Prize, worth 1.5 million euros. The outstanding biologist wants to contribute with her research „to the biodiversity and climate protection of tomorrow“.

Kees Klomp

Kees Klomp is a passionate ambassador of the Meaning Economy and socially meaningful entrepreneurship in the Netherlands. He is the author of, among others, the Handbook of Meaningful Entrepreneurship, a management book that became a bestseller. Consequently, he is a frequently requested speaker on this subject. Kees studied political science and communication science at the University of Amsterdam. After his studies, he worked for nearly 15 years at the three largest international marketing consultancy firms before transitioning to education and academia. Initially, he worked at Erasmus University as the director of the Society and Enterprise Foundation (SMO). Then, in 2020, he was appointed as a lecturer in Meaning Economy at Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences. In this role, he contributes to the substantive renewal of the curricula of economic programs. Currently, Kees is a program manager at Windesheim University of Applied Sciences. He is working on a public platform to develop the sense of urgency, action perspective, and intrinsic motivation of students and teachers to engage in targeted and controlled societal engagement and activism within the university.

Laura Marie Edinger-Schons

Laura Marie Edinger-Schons is Professor of Sustainable Business at the University of Hamburg, Germany. She is also a member of the executive board of the University of Hamburg as Chief Sustainability Officer and head of the Sustainability Office. Until November 2022, she was Professor of Sustainable Business and Vice President Sustainability and Information Provision at the University of Mannheim. In her research she focuses on how organizations can contribute to sustainable development, especially through purpose, participation, and impact measurement. She received the German Science Award 2016 and 2022 for the Best Collaboration with Private Business. For her habilitation thesis she received the Wolfgang-Ritter Award 2017, the Roman Herzog Research Award 2018 as well as the Max Weber Award for Business Ethics 2018. In 2019, she was voted into the Top 40 under 40 by the magazine Capital.

Antoinette Weibel

Professor Dr. Antoinette Weibel is chaired professor for human resource management and Director at the Institute for Work and Employment Research at the University of St. Gallen. She is President of the Executive Committee of the Institute for Systemic Management and Public Governance, and a member of the Executive Committee of the Institute for Media and Communications Management and the Institute for Business Ethics at the same University. Further, she has been elected to the executive board of the Swiss Academy of Humanities and Social Sciences (SAGW). Antoinette Weibel is a dedicated trust and motivation researcher, focusing currently on “practical” wisdom. Together with Otti Vogt, founder of “good organizations” and formerly COO-ING, she established the “Good Organization Research Lab”. Antoinette belongs to the 40 thinker HR from the D-A-CH.

Hans Joachim Schellnhuber

Professor Hans Joachim Schellnhuber is a distinguished climate scientist and the Director General Emeritus of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK). He serves as the Director General of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) as of December 2023. Schellnhuber's groundbreaking research focuses on climate change, sustainability, and complex systems dynamics. Through his leadership roles and extensive contributions, he has played a pivotal role in shaping international climate policy and advocating for urgent action to address the challenges of global warming.

Committees

Scientific committee

  • Prof. Dr. Matthias Olthaar, NHL Stenden UAS, Co-Chair
  • Prof. Dr. Egbert Dommerholt, Hanze UAS, Co-Chair
  • Mag. Christian Felber, ECG Int.
  • Prof. Dr. Niels Faber, Hanze UAS
  • Drs. Elly Rijnierse, ECG NL
  • Dr. Karidia Sanon, University of Ouagadougou
  • Prof. Dr. Eveline van Leeuwen, Wageningen University
  • Dr. Tatiana Ciff, NHL Stenden UAS
  • Prof. Dr. Aleid Brouwer, Groningen University
  • Prof. Dr. Leila Kebir, University of Lausanne
  • Prof. Dr. Silvana Signori, University of Bergamo
  • Dr. Kwabena Obiri-Yeboah, Takoradi Technical University of Ghana
  • Prof. Dr. Swetketu Patnaik, Anglia Ruskin University Cambridge (UK)
  • Prof. Dr. Michael Pirson, Fordham University
  • Prof. Dr. Ana Teresa Ejarque, Valencia University
  • Prof. Dr. Jaime Güemes, Valencia University
  • Prof. Dr. Francisco Javier Carrilo, Tecnológico de Monterrey
  • Prof. Dr. José Albors Garrigos, Universitat Politècnica de València

Organizing committee

  • Dr. ir. Chris Schott, Wetsus, Chair
  • Ir. Marija Gadzimuradova, Wetsus
  • Lourens van Langeveld, Wetsus
  • Irina Pozhidaeva, Wetsus
  • Reinder Boomsma, Wetsus
  • Hester Henstra, Wetsus
  • Ir. Ragne Pärnamäe, Wetsus
  • Dr. ir. Qingdian Shu, Wetsus
  • Jurre Tjepkema, Wetsus
  • Jannie Mulder, Wetsus
  • Victoria Snouck Hurgronje, NHL Stenden UAS
  • Dr. José Carlos Ramos, ECG Int.

Steering committee

  • Prof. Dr. ir. Cees Buisman, Wetsus, Chair
  • Dr. ir. Chris Schott, Wetsus
  • Prof. Dr. Matthias Olthaar, NHL Stenden UAS
  • Prof. Dr. Egbert Dommerholt, Hanze UAS
  • Drs. Jacqueline Hofstede, ECG NL, Initiator
  • Drs. Elly Rijnierse, ECG NL, Initiator
  • Mag. Christian Felber, ECG Int.
  • Dr. José Carlos Ramos, ECG Int.

Past Events

I ECGIC - Bremen

"A Common Narrative for a Pluralist World" - 2019
More about I ECGIC

II ECGIC - Valencia

"Connecting Sustainability Organizational Models with SDGs" - 2022
More about II ECGIC

Sponsors

Do you want to support ECGIC 2024?

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Registration

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Get 3-day tickets to the event!

Student

150 €
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Three days

ECG Member

500 €
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Three days

Regular

650 €
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Three days

We have a limited amount of scholarships we can offer to people who have trouble affording tickets. You can reach out to ECGIC2024@wetsus.nl.

One day Ticket

250 €
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Roundtable event

65 €
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Monday evening event only. Included in Three Day tickets.

Roundtable: Kate Raworth

Professor Raworth joins the discussion at the roundtable, looking for the convergence of future-fit economic models!
Learn more

Our first Sponsor is aboard: OeAD student housing

OeAD student housing is a non-profit provider of student accommodation in Austria.
Learn more
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Submission

We invite academics, businessmen, representatives of public organizations and associations to share their knowledge and experience in the implementation of one of the sustainable economic models. Contributing topics include, but are not limited to:
  • Requirements of the successor of GDP
  • GDP growth vs. “Economic growth, prosperity and thriving”
  • New sustainable economic models
  • Fair and sustainable water & energy systems
  • Circular and Biobased Economy (intensive and circular use of raw materials)
  • Regenerative natural systems (water, soil, air in balance for improved biodiversity)
  • Positive health, care & agri-food systems
  • Smart Technologies
  • Leadership and spirituality
The reviewing process consists of two successive stages. The poster and oral presentations will be granted based on the accepted abstracts.

Important dates:

  • Full submission deadline extended 15.04.24
  • Feedback on papers 29.04.24
You can find more detailed instructions in your submission environment on Oxford Abstracts.
Call for Abstracts Download

Scientific Abstract

Please choose the "scientific abstract" category in the submission form if your writing is based on research findings.

Case Abstract

Please choose the "case abstract" category in the submission form if you are not affiliated with a research organization and want to share your practical experience.
The conference will be held at the city theatre “De Harmonie”, one of the largest theatres in The Netherlands. From solar panels on the roof to conscious use of water and electricity, from fair trade coffee to the use of local products at the restaurant, De Harmonie holds strong values concerning sustainability and environmental responsibility.

Accommodation

Book your stay for this event at one of Leeuwarden’s beautiful hotels, most of them within a walking distance from De Harmonie.
Stay in Leeuwarden

Travel

There are multiple ways in which you can travel to Leeuwarden. From the airports of Amsterdam or Eindhoven it will take respectively 2 and 3 hours to travel to Leeuwarden by either car or train. You can plan your trip and check the current travel times and detailed information at 9292.nl or the 9292 mobile application.
Get to Leeuwarden

Contact

ECGIC2024@wetsus.nl

Send an email
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© 2025 Wetsus. All Rights Reserved.

Future-fit economic models: What do they have in common – how can they join forces? | By Christian Felber

Abstract

There is a growing number of new sustainable, inclusive, cohesive, participatory, just and humane economic models. A possible next step in the discourse about them is the comparative analysis in order to find out key commonalities, potential synergies, and “requirements” for a future-fit economic model. The author and initiator of the Economy for the Common Good provides an overview of these „new sustainable economic models“ and compares them according to underlying values, principles, and practical ways of implementation. The keynote addresses the cooperative spirit of the conference and prepares the ground for its public highlight on the eve of June 3rd, the round table with representatives of diverse future-fit economic models.

Democratic principles for a sustainable economy | By Lisa Herzog

Abstract

Democracy is under pressure, and less and less able to stir the economy into a sustainable direction. Therefore, to stabilize democracy and to make possible the socio-ecological transformation of the economy, democratic principles need to be implemented directly in the economy. This is not only a matter of morality, but also has practical advantages. Democratizing the economy can increase legitimacy and take advantage of the “knowledge of the many” to accelerate the transformation. Democratic practices, especially deliberation, allow bringing together different forms of knowledge, which is crucial for the local implementation of principles of social and ecological sustainability. This talk explores what this idea means in more concrete terms, from democratic participation in the workplace to the democratization of time.

Market, state, association, and well-being. An historical approach | By Bas van Bavel

Abstract

Over the past decades, markets have conventionally been seen as the best instrument to stimulate economic growth and enhance prosperity and well-being. The automatic link between markets and economic growth is increasingly questioned, however, as well as the automatic link between economic growth and enhancement of well-being. This has led to attempts to capture well-being development more directly than through GDP per capita figures and has produced a more variegated picture of well-being growth. Also, this has led to a shift of focus to other coordination systems than the market, as primarily the state but increasingly also the association. Analyses of the historical record suggest that especially the latter could be a vital component in future well-being.

The era of postgrowth economics | By Matthias Olthaar

Abstract

The scientific debate on whether economies should always continue to grow increasingly becomes a political and societal debate. On the one hand further growth for the most affluent countries seems neither possible nor valuable, but on the other hand there is still lack of understanding and knowledge what a non-growing economy should look like and could best be governed. In this lecture we discuss various policy measures that can be realistically implemented, take into account government finances and aim at a higher quality of life despite a non-growing economy.

Searching Innovation for the Common Good | By Cees Buisman

Abstract

In his key note he will conclude after a life of innovations that it is impossible that humanity will stay within the save planetary boundaries with innovation only. We should be more critical about the behaviour of the rich population in the world and more critical about new innovations that prove to be dangerous, like the PFAS crisis shows at this moment. In his keynote he will investigate how to look at the world that can stay within the save planetary boundaries, how should we change ourselves? It is clear if we only talk about the words of science and systems we miss the essential words of how we should cooperate and change ourselves. And his search for coherent save innovations. Which innovations will be save and will lead to a fair and sustainable world? And will lead to a world we want to live in.

Towards an economy of value preservation | By Niels Faber

Abstract

The realisation of a circular economy has thus far unfolded under the assumption that it would fit within existing economic arrangements. In practice, we witness many circular initiatives struggling to give shape to their ambitions, let alone develop to maturity. These past months, various material recycling organisations terminated their activities, seeing virgin alternatives from other parts of the world flooding the market at prices against they cannot compete. If the transition towards a circular economy (i.e. an economy of value preservation) is to be taken seriously, a new perspective on value in our economic system seems unavoidable, as the rewriting of the rules of the economic game. At this moment, current perceptions of value stand in the way of this transition both at micro as well as macro levels. Several contours for a collective exploration of new directions of value and economic configuration that foster circular transition will be addressed.