| 1. |
- Söderbaum, Peter, 1937-
(författare)
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Actors, Agendas, Arenas and Institutional Change Processes : A Social Science Approach to Sustainability
- 2008
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Ingår i: The Journal of Interdisciplinary Economics. - Bicester, Oxon UK : A B Academic Publisher. - 0260-1079. ; 19:2 & 3, s. 127-151
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Sustainable development is a challenge not only for natural science but also for the social sciences. In the case of social science, positivism has a role but also hermeneutics and other perspectives that emphasize the subjective aspects of human behaviour. The subjective perceptions and value orientation of different actors play a central role in influencing development patterns and institutional change processes. It is argued that the conceptual framework of economics plays a key role in the 'mental maps' of influential actors. But mainstream neoclassical economics was designed for other purposes and does not go well with the present sustainability challenge. An alternative conceptual framework more in line with institutional economics is proposed. Individuals are understood as Political Economic Persons and organizations as Political Economic Organizations. Individuals and organizations are actors with their specific agendas, appearing on arenas to exchange ideas and commodities. Analysis is multidimensional and there is a role for ethics and ideology in economic behaviour and action. Institutional change is understood in terms of the processes of interpreting a phenomenon, naming it, its manifestations and acceptance (legitimacy achievement). A scheme of analysis for actor-institution studies is proposed.
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| 2. |
- Söderbaum, Peter, 1937-
(författare)
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Business Companies, Institutional Change and Ecological Sustainability
- 2008
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Ingår i: Contemporary Research at Swedish Graduate School of Business. - : Örebro : Örebro University ; Västerås : Mälardalen Universit. - 9789176686065 ; , s. 331-342
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Bokkapitel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Among institutional economists, Gunnar Myrdal is cited for his argument that values are always with us in social science research and K. William Kapp for his early study of 'the social costs of private enterprise'. In relation to environmental issues, a corporation could either ignore them following a business as usual strategy, modify its activities or radically reconsider its mission and practice. Models of organizations are discussed such as the Political Economic Organization which opens the door for a serious consideration of how the company can adapt to environmental issues. Environmental Management Systems is presented as a case of institutional change.
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| 3. |
- Söderbaum, Peter, 1937-, et al.
(författare)
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Ecological economics and organic farming
- 2006
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Ingår i: Global Developments and Organic Agriculture. - Wallingford, UK : CABI Publishing. - 1845930789 ; , s. 113-133
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Bokkapitel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Ecological economics (EE) is proposed as an approach to decision-making and planning in organic farming. It is argued that EE is better suited for this task than the conventional neoclassical economics approach. The contribution that EE can make to the organic farming movement is apparent on the ontological level, through its focus on socio-economic systems as nested subsystems of the ecosystem. In addition EE´s stance on the issue of allocation, distribution and scale seems to constitute a more appropriate conceptualization about the interaction between socio-economic systems and the environment, which is more closely aligned to the principle aims of the organic farming movement. The concepts of time and scale are used as examples of how EE, with input from political economics, can help highlight problematic issues regarding the interaction between farming systems and their biophysical environment, which are not addressed in the neoclassical approach. Material flow Accounting and Analysis (MFA) and Multicriteria Analysis (MCA) are discussed as practical examples of the framework that EE can provide for decision-making.
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| 4. |
- Söderbaum, Peter, 1937-
(författare)
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Economics as ideology
- 2009
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Ingår i: Pluralist economics. - : Zed Books. - 9781848130432 - 978 1848130449 ; , s. 117-127
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Bokkapitel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- It is an illusion to believe that mainstream neoclassical economics is neutral in terms of value and ideology. The ideology of neoclassical economics is specific and differs from the ideology of specific alternatives to neoclassical economics. Limiting education in economics to the neoclassical paradigm means that university departments of economics in addition to their scientific role get a role as political propaganda centers. Only pluralism is compatible with a democratic society and is a reasonable starting point for education and research in economics.
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
- Söderbaum, Peter, 1937-
(författare)
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Interpretations of sustainable development and corporate social responsibility in relation to paradigm and ideology : An actor-oriented perspective
- 2007
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Ingår i: Paradigms of Corporate Sustainability. - Vaasa : Vaasan Yliopisto. - 9789524762076 ; , s. 232-255
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Research and teaching activities in economics and business management are specific not only in scientific terms but also in ideological terms. This political aspect has to be discussed openly. As an example, our interpretations of Sustainable Development (SD) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is closely related to our ideological orientations. In considering more radical changes towards SD, the three levels of theory of science, paradigms in economics and ideological orientation have to be involved. Positivism, neoclassical economics and neo-liberalism support the present institutional framework and globalization trend. Alternative perspectives at all three levels may open the door for a different set of institutions. While all these types of perspectives are essential, paradigms in economics play a central role. Alternatives to Economic Man, profit-maximizing firms, markets understood in terms of supply and demand and Cost-Benefit analysis are therefore proposed.
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| 7. |
- Söderbaum, Peter, 1937-
(författare)
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Is there a 'sustainability economics'? : On the roles and responsibilities of actors in the academia
- 2006
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Ingår i: Science for Sustainable Development. - Stockholm : Föreningen Vetenskap för Hållbar Utveckling. - 9163192225 ; , s. 245-255
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Bokkapitel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Economics plays a key role in the development dialogue. Sustainable Development is a partly new challenge and it is argued that exclusive reliance on mainstream neoclassical economics would represent an unwise strategy. Neoclassical economics is specific not only in scientific but also in ideological terms. In a democracy there should be openings also for other kinds of political economics. An institutional version of political economics based on Political Economic Person and Political Economic Organization assumptions is outlined. Individuals and organizations are regarded as actors interacting through markets and in other ways. Non-monetary impacts and ethical issues are illuminated to make the approach compatible with visions of sustainability. Traditional ideas of university research and education as being value-neutral and separate from politics are rejected. Just as society has to change direction, the same is true of activities at universities.
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| 8. |
- Söderbaum, Peter, 1937-, et al.
(författare)
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Kan MKB stärka demokratin och bidra till hållbar utveckling?
- 2007
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Ingår i: MKB. - Lund : Studentlitteratur. - 9789144047027 ; , s. 155-170
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Bokkapitel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Vi lever i ett demokratiskt samhälle. Demokratiska strävanden kan därför tas som utgångspunkt för hur beslutsprocesser organiseras och beslutsunderlag utformas. Omställning till en hållbar utveckling ställer också krav på beslutsprocesserna, inte minst på grund av att mål och medel för en sådan utveckling är svåra att identifiera. Etiska och ideologiska utgångspunkter är viktiga i sammanhanget och bör lyftas fram.
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| 9. |
- Söderbaum, Peter, 1937-
(författare)
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Only pluralism in economics research and education is compatible with a democratic society
- 2008
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Ingår i: International Journal of Green Economics. - : Inderscience. - 1744-9928. ; 2:1, s. 45-64
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Do we need a Green economics different from mainstream neoclassical economics? The position taken here is that exclusive reliance on neoclassical economics (with its extension to environmental economics) will not be enough in guiding us towards a sustainable society. Neoclassical economics is specific not only in scientific but also in ideological terms and the combined conceptual and ideological message of neoclassical economics is part of the problems faced rather than any solution.Neoclassical economics has to compete with other theoretical and ideological perspectives. In this article an attempt is made to systematically compare elements of neoclassical economics, such as assumptions about the Economic Man, profitmaximising firms and markets in terms of supply and demand with alternative conceptual and ideological/ethical premises, thus suggesting one possible version of a Green economics.
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