Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/169390 
Year of Publication: 
2017
Series/Report no.: 
Economics Discussion Papers No. 2017-82
Publisher: 
Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW), Kiel
Abstract: 
The UN's Sustainable Development Goals in their generalized form need to be further reflected in order to identify synergies and trade-offs between their (sub-)targets, and to apply them to concrete nations and regions. Explorative, qualitative cause and effect modeling could serve as a tool for adding crucial factors and enabling a better understanding of the interrelations between the goals, eventually leading to more informed concrete measures better able to cope with their inherent obstacles. This work provides and describes a model that could serve as a template for concrete application. The generalized model already points to some potential ambivalences as well as synergies that can be reflected on using some of the latest theories and concepts from economics and transition research, among other fields. Its first analyses cautiously raise doubts that some possible assumptions behind the original Sustainable Development Goals might overlook some systemic boundaries. For example, an undifferentiated increase of productivity contradicts a lessened environmental impact and need for resources in light of potential planetary boundaries.
Subjects: 
SDG
transition
sustainability
modeling
explorative
participatory
qualitative
insight matrix
soft factors
feedback loops
evolutionary psychology
know why
decoupling
circular economy
social lab
JEL: 
A19
C19
B49
C38
C69
O10
O19
Creative Commons License: 
cc-by Logo
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.