Book review: Alternative Economies and Spaces

in Geographische Zeitschrift (2015), 103(2), 124-125

Grünes Wachstum und alternative Wirtschaftsformen

in Geographische Rundschau (2015), 67(5), 4-9

Buzzwords such as green new deal, green economy and sustainable growth dominate current debates about future development scenarios. They are increasingly being criticized for their reliance on ... [more ▼]

Buzzwords such as green new deal, green economy and sustainable growth dominate current debates about future development scenarios. They are increasingly being criticized for their reliance on technological solutions and on old capitalist growth paradigms i.e. not sufficiently taking into account the limits of resource consumption. The efficiency hypothesis suffers from a low probability that an absolute decoupling between economic growth and resource consumption can be achieved. Therefore, concepts such as “de-growth” and “diverse economies” that offer alternative models based on sufficiency approaches, sharing schemes and dematerialization are gaining momentum. Given their manifold spatial implications, they should intrigue further geographical research and offer promising examples for teaching critical views on growth and post-growth issues. [less ▲]

Spatial Development in Luxembourg: Mimetic Evolution or Emergence of a New Planning Culture?

in European Planning Studies (2015), 23(3), 509-528

Luxembourg’s planning system is currently undergoing a fundamental reform with the establishment of completely new structures in some parts of it. The present paper reflects these developments in the ... [more ▼]

Luxembourg’s planning system is currently undergoing a fundamental reform with the establishment of completely new structures in some parts of it. The present paper reflects these developments in the following steps: We start by proposing a heuristic based on the planning culture perspective originally developed by Frank Othengrafen and colleagues, taking into account (a) planning artefacts, (b) the planning environment, and (c) the societal environment. Before we subsume the contemporary developments of the planning system we provide a brief description of Luxembourg’s spatial context which, due to the country’s small size and the high growth rates of its economy and population in the past years, displays a number of peculiar features. Applying the planning culture perspective on the planning system and its societal context reveals not only hybrid characteristics with regard to neighbouring systems. It also provides the important characteristics of the small state and shows the limits of the planning culture perspective. [less ▲]

Interaktive Transitionsforschung und Wissensgenerierung im Bereich nachhaltiges Bauen

in pnd - rethinking planning (2014), 2014(2), 1-14

Basierend auf den Erfahrungen eines internationalen Forschungsprojekts zu den institutionellen Rahmenbedingungen für Innovativität im nachhaltigen Bauen illustriert der Beitrag das Potenzial interaktiver ... [more ▼]

Basierend auf den Erfahrungen eines internationalen Forschungsprojekts zu den institutionellen Rahmenbedingungen für Innovativität im nachhaltigen Bauen illustriert der Beitrag das Potenzial interaktiver Methoden für die Produktion von »Transitionswissen«. Die frühe Einbindung von lokalen Praktikern, Unternehmern, Wissenschaftlern, politischen Entscheidungsträgern und Vertretern von Nichtregierungsorganisationen dient dabei nicht nur den Forschenden zur Exploration des jeweiligen Forschungskontexts, sondern schafft eine Plattform für produktiven Austausch von Wissen. Methodisch unterstützt durch interaktive Workshops sowie Delphi-basierte Feedback- und Validierungsrunden entsteht über die Projektlaufzeit ein wechselseitiger Lernprozess, der zusätzlich durch den Austausch von Erfahrungen aus vier Fallstudienregionen in Europa, Australien und Kanada inspiriert wird. Er liefert für alle Beteiligten wichtige Erkenntnisse über die Gestaltbarkeit von nachhaltigkeitsorientierten Transitionsprozessen im Baubereich. [less ▲]

Les économies de l'après-croissance : objet ou non-objet pour la géographie économique ?

in Bulletin de la Société Géographique de Liège (2014), (62), 63-73

Malgré l’intérêt croissant de la géographie économique pour les questions de l’industrie et des services verts, celle-ci reste fortement ancrée dans le paradigme traditionnel de croissance économique ... [more ▼]

Malgré l’intérêt croissant de la géographie économique pour les questions de l’industrie et des services verts, celle-ci reste fortement ancrée dans le paradigme traditionnel de croissance économique continue. La présente contribution vise à confronter les discours des avantages néo-libéraux autour des notions d’« économie verte » et de « croissance intelligente » aux approches plus critiques des économies d’après-croissance. Basé sur les travaux pertinents de chercheurs comme Tim Jackson ou Serge Latouche, l’objectif principal de l’article est de relever des sujets de recherche prometteurs offrant des opportunités pour des contributions empiriques et conceptuelles que les géographes économistes pourraient apporter aux débats scientifiques et sociétaux sur les transitions économiques et le paradigme de l’après-croissance. Sont ainsi mis en avant des approches récemment adoptées par la géographie économique comme les « social studies of technology », les transitions régionales ainsi que les systèmes d’innovation. [less ▲]

Research & Innovation: Which priorities for structural funds in Luxembourg

Report (2013)

It is a key aim of the EU2020 strategy and of the Luxembourg government to promote research and innovation (“smart growth”). The 2014-2020 programming period of the Structural Funds offers an opportunity ... [more ▼]

It is a key aim of the EU2020 strategy and of the Luxembourg government to promote research and innovation (“smart growth”). The 2014-2020 programming period of the Structural Funds offers an opportunity to support projects in this field at national, cross-border and transnational levels. This leaflet synthesises the results of a consultation process organised by the ESPON Contact Point of Luxembourg in summer and autumn 2013 in the framework of the USESPON project. First, it aimed at analysing the relevance of ESPON results in the field of research, development and innovation (RDI) in Luxembourg. Second, this process reflected on possible priorities for the future operational programmes of the structural funds. This process involved either experts in the field of RDI or those responsible for drafting operational programmes. The consultation process has been framed by a Delphi technique. First, participants received “support material” presenting the situation of Luxembourg according to the ESPON results. Second, they participated in a workshop on 11th July 2013. Third, a synthesis based on the results of the workshop was provided together with a questionnaire giving the experts the opportunity to deepen and concretise their contribution. By summarising this consultation process, this leaflet aims at 1) working out a profile of Luxembourg on the basis of ESPON results in the field of RDI and 2) developing recommendations of how future-oriented innovation strategies can be implemented in the context of European Territorial Cooperation. The final version of this document was published on the ECP Luxembourg website in autumn 2013. [less ▲]

Power Topographies in Cross-Border Spatial Development Policies

in Gilles, Peter; Koff, Harlan; Maganda, Carmen (Eds.) et al Theorizing Borders Through Analyses of Power Relationships (2013)

Specialized international financial centres and their crisis resilience: The case of Luxembourg

in Geographische Zeitschrift (2012), 99(2-3), 123-142

Not always as sexy as New York… Perceptions and representations of Luxembourg-City at the international level.

in Sohn, Christophe (Ed.) Luxembourg: An Emerging Cross-border Metropolitan Region (2012)

Post-Wachstums-Ökonomien – (k)ein Thema für die Wirtschaftsgeographie?

in Zeitschrift für Wirtschaftsgeographie (2012), 56(4), 264-273