The fourth section of the study shapes perspectives for politics and economy in Germany and Europe. Above all they require a paradigm shift in managing production and service systems. Therefore globally relevant trends and paths towards a resource-efficient and nature compatible economy are presented: switching to a solar economy as well as the efficient handling of all substances and energies deployed. This reorganisation requires new prioritisation in the political sphere.
The buzzwords of the 1990s were deregulation and globalisation. Sustainability, however, requires regulation and regionalisation. Corrective market architecture must be designed to prevent companies from externalising ecological and social costs. Similarly, it will stipulate guidelines to steer market dynamics into a direction beneficial for the common good.
For its part, regionalisation strives to close resource cycles on the regional level as well as to establish an economic system that reduces transport and strengthens regional economies. After all, environmental policies that fail to deal with socio-political issues as well are doomed to failure. Serious reorientation demands the highest standards of public co-operation. This brings to the fore the issue of a new work and participation policy as well as measures to redistribute income and wealth.
The Chapters:
- Changing the Basis: Switching to a Solar Economy
- Redundancy: On the Opportunities presented by Resource Efficiency
- Designing Markets: The Primacy of Politics
- Closing Cycles: The Renaissance of Regions
- Fair Share of Work: En Route to a Society of Occupation
